[TheForge] bandsaw steel problem

[Ben Barrett]

To keep it heat for a while like that, would it be best to use some
stainless foil or have it wrapped in charcoal so as not to lose the
carbon points?
I had a feeling this thing needing a good soaking :)
Ben

On Tue, Apr 6, 2010 at 3:57 PM, James Binnion <jbin at well.com> wrote:
>
> It could be a variety of different steels depending on what it was
> made to cut but unless it is a bi-metal blade it will probably not be
> a high alloy fancy steel like M42 or such as they are too brittle and
> expensive to make the whole blade from. It will probably be a "carbon
> steel" which still could be fairly fancy in composition but just not a
> super high percentage of alloying elements.
>
> Uddeholm 15N20 is a band saw blade steel C: 0,71% Ni 2% Si: 0,30% Mn:
> 0,50% P max: 0,020% S max: 0,015%
> or it could be L6   C 0.65-0.75%  Mn 0.25-0.80% Si 0.50%  Cr
> 0.60-1.20%  Ni 1.25-2.00%  Mo 0.50%  V 0.20-0.30%  Cu 0.25%  P 0.03%
> S 0.03%
>
> In either case for maximum softness proper annealing procedure would
> need to be followed.  For L6 that would be hold at 1400-1450 for 1 Hr
> then cool at 40 F per hr till 1000F then faster cooling will not
> affect the annealed hardness.
>
> You can probably get away with less time at temperature and cooling in
> ashes or vermiculite but it will be harder than if you follow the
> recommended procedures. But just laying it on the floor is going to
> cool way too fast.
>
> Jim
>
> >
>
> James Binnion
> jbin at well.com
>