[TheForge] Wire question

[MRScherm at aol.com]

two cents worth on wiring the billets: I heat treated some AISI D2 by  wiring 
(using low carbon bailing wire) it to a fixture, then lowered the fixture  
and part into molten salts.  The part came out about Rockwell C 64, then I  
tempered it.  Later I found out that in the area in contact with the  low carbon 
wire was much softer, around HRC 56-58.  Analysis showed that  the low carbon 
wire had drawn some of the carbon out of the part (D-2 has very  high carbon, 
around 1.5 percent, compared to the wire around 0.05%).  So,  there was not as 
much carbon, the hardening agent, at the spot where the wire  held onto the 
part.  Actually left a visible line where the wire was  wrapped around the part. 
 Another heat treater told me he had the same  experience using chicken wire 
for the same purpose.  FYI
Mike Schermerhorn