[TheForge] Normalize vs Annealing prior to hardening

[James Binnion]

To normalize one needs to hold the steel 100F above the austenizing temperature for an extended period of time (15 min-1 hr) then air cool. This extended time is needed to allow all the steel to convert to an austenite grain structure. This will result in a uniform, fine pearlite grain structure upon cooling. Whether you should do it will depend on the steel you are working. If the steel air hardens then normalizing is not a good idea because it can lead to cracking in the steel. So W-1, 1095, O-1 etc will benefit from normalizing but high alloy tool steels (A2, D2, H13, S7 etc.) are typically not considered good candidates for normalizing.

James Binnion
jbin at well.com