Z-Wear HT odd hardness result

BluntCut MetalWorks

BluntCut MetalWorks

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Apr 28, 2012
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I recently ht z-wear: Evenheat 18OD oven, aust 1975F 30+minutes soak, plate quench

hardness: 67rc pre-cryo(equiv to AQ), 68.5rc post cryo and 400F tempered 2x 2hrs

Test: 15dps edge no problem flex against brass rod but would microchip when whittling dried cow femur bone or anything harder.

Pre & post cryo hardness are abnormally too high, esp after 400F tempered (via Paragon 24D oven)? Please share your thoughts/experiences - thanks.

*I just ordered a couple bars of z-wear from AKS - to replicate/check ht.
edit: blade in question is in 1975F group
x2sEPiHm.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/x2sEPiHm.jpg
 
Last edited:
Brilliant, thanks!

This blade profile matched my other zmax blank and found the z-wear blank still hanging on blanks wall.

Larrin said:
Looks more like the hardness of Z-Max than Z-Wear. I vote for misidentified steel.
Click to expand...

You are spot on about expected hrc. As I was aimed to ht then temper z-wear to 64-65rc but messed up steel. Well, on the upside, now I know 1975F aust zmax w/ cryo can hit 69rc AQ.

I've been using a 65rc cruwear (ingot) util knife for 2+yrs now, performs very well => want to make another one in z-wear.

Willie71 said:
Weird. I would expect Rc63/64 with that protocol. I have no idea why you have those results.
Click to expand...
 
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