Good evening,
I made a 4 damascus blades using Alto's steel 1084 and 15n20. I forged welded them, ground it to shape and welded a piece of 1084 to each for the tang. I harden them to 1500 degrees soaked for 10 mins, and cooled it down in hydraulic fluid quickly. I tested the hardness it varied from 76 RC to 81 RC. I tempered them twice at 425 for 2 hrs. then air cooled to room temp. tested them and they read 78 to 75 RC. so I soaked again at 500 and soaked for 2 hrs. and cooled till room temp.with no change. I want to get them down to about 58 to 59 RC. What am I doing wrong? There is even a RC swing from one side of the blade to the other side. Hope somebody can help me out. Thanks
I made a 4 damascus blades using Alto's steel 1084 and 15n20. I forged welded them, ground it to shape and welded a piece of 1084 to each for the tang. I harden them to 1500 degrees soaked for 10 mins, and cooled it down in hydraulic fluid quickly. I tested the hardness it varied from 76 RC to 81 RC. I tempered them twice at 425 for 2 hrs. then air cooled to room temp. tested them and they read 78 to 75 RC. so I soaked again at 500 and soaked for 2 hrs. and cooled till room temp.with no change. I want to get them down to about 58 to 59 RC. What am I doing wrong? There is even a RC swing from one side of the blade to the other side. Hope somebody can help me out. Thanks