When to normalize steel

[Fortress Mark]

I usually normalize my steel. I typically use 5160 or 1095 and normalize with one cycle each at 1650, 1550 and 1450 for 10 min each. I have been doing it after I profile and rough grind my blades. But now I'm wondering if I should/could normalize as my first step. Just cut my flat stock to length and clean up enough to apply a coat of ATP-641 and do my normalizing at the beginning. That way I can do my clean up on the blank which is much easier than on my profiled blade.

Thoughts from anyone?

Thx

 

[John mc c]

I normalize straight after forging
1650 to cool
1475 to cool
1475 quench
Then 2 hours 1275 to anneal
Grind then it's ready to harden
That's Kevin cashens routine that Stacy posted here
Fixed my warping problem and couldn't be easier

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

The bar stock should come in state ready to cut and grind. No need to normalize it.

After all forging, grinding, shaping, do a normalization to relieve all stress and reduce any large grain by putting the carbon back into solution, then reforming the grains.
If this is done as the last step before the HT there is no need to clean it up, just proceed directly to HT.

 

[Fortress Mark]

I usually apply ATP-641 when normalizing. But by the time the 3rd cycle is complete it's all baked off and covered in scale. At that time I will clean up and recoat. Are you saying no need to recoat? Just put it back in the oven and then quench when finished?

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I usually apply ATP-641 when normalizing. But by the time the 3rd cycle is complete it's all baked off and covered in scale. At that time I will clean up and recoat. Are you saying no need to recoat? Just put it back in the oven and then quench when finished?

Yes, most of the scale will blow off in the quench anyway.

 

[Natlek]

But now I'm wondering if I should/could normalize as my first step. Just cut my flat stock to length and clean up enough to apply a coat of ATP-641 and do my normalizing at the beginning. That way I can do my clean up on the blank which is much easier than on my profiled blade.

Thoughts from anyone?

Thx

This way is better if you ask me because you CAN heat treat /make tests/ with one , two , three .....piece from leftover after you cut your blank and see what you will have INSIDE knife before you HT it . . .