Can you heat treat 52100 in a forge?

Heat Treatment of 52100 The typical recommended heat treatment for 52100 is a 1500-1550°F austenitize for 10-30 minutes followed by an oil quench and a temper from 300-500°F [1]. Some knifemakers have recommended a 1475°F austenitize.

Is 52100 a high carbon steel?

52100 Steel is an alloy high in carbon (more than 1% of carbon) used in industrial bearings for its excellent wear resistance and strength, today its also used in knife industry as mono steel or welded with other steels such as 410 or 416.

Is bearing steel good for knife?

It has been used in many knives, in part due to its good properties in forging and in part because bearings are an easy source of scrap steel. The chromium addition improves hardenability, and decreases the carbide size for an improvement in toughness.

How do you harden steel on a knife?

To reduce the brittleness, the material is tempered, usually by heating it to 175–350°C (347–662°F) for 2 hours, which results in a hardness of 53–63 HRC and a good balance between sharpness retention, grindability and toughness.

What kind of steel is 52100?

Carbon Alloy Steel
52100 is a Carbon Alloy Steel originally developed in 1905 as a bearing steel for high pressure applications (which is why it is commonly referred to as ball bearing steel) but has since become legendary as a blade steel.

Do you have to harden knife blanks?

Most everywhere will give you a blank that is already annealed. This means that it is heated up beyond it’s critical temperature and cooled slowly so it is in a relaxed state. This makes it soft enough to be drilled, cut, filed, ground, etc. So this is what you’ll shape into your blade.

What is the best oil to quench a knife in?

1) Motor Oils Motor oils are a common type of quenching oil used in both blacksmithing and bladesmithing applications. New and used motor oils can be used for quenching and are both widely available.