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08-03-2009, 06:25 PM
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#1 | | Oil Hardened Steel Name: Dolan Brown City: Wallace State: NC County: Duplin Join Date: Dec 2005 Age: 61  08-03-2009, 06:25 PM
I recently purchased some Oil Hardened steel from Enco to make some lathe tools.
I understand that the steel needs to be hardened to make it hard and hold its edge. I have read that you heat it to 1500 degrees (at this point a magnet will not stick to it) and dip it in peanut oil for several minutes to hardened it.
Has anyone here done this and if so, what process did you use?
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08-03-2009, 07:09 PM
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#2 |
Name: Dan City: Lincolnton State: NC County: Lincoln Join Date: Jun 2009 Age: 40 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.30 over 151 days | Re: Oil Hardened Steel
Short answer:
If you bought "hardened" steel from Enco all the processes necessary should have been done by Enco and you should just have to cut the steel to the lengths you want and grind the edge you want. Same as I do for my metal lathe.
Long Answer:
Without getting into too much detail (we can later if you want) you have to take a few things into consideration and you have to harden THEN temper or you will have a brittle tool that will break easily.
So, considerations:
1. Carbon or Alloy Steel - Carbon steel is hardened using brine or water as the quencher and alloy steel is hardened using oil as the quencher.
2. Carbon steel when hardening needs to be cooled to below 1000* F within 1 second, if it's longer pearlite will form on the part and peralite is softer than the martensite that will form if cooled below 1000* within 1 second. Alloy time limit increases above the 1 sec time limit and is also dependent on the temp the alloy is heated to.
3. Max hardness for steel is Rc53, above that it just gets more brittle and has to be tempered more.
4. Heating should be done in steps. i.e. If you are wanting a temp of 1500* you should go to 600* slowly let is "soak" then bump to 1200* or so let it soak again then quickly go to the final 1500*. depending on the makeup of the part, size etc. there are formulas for the soak times.
5. As stated above after heat treating you must temper the steel or it will break easily being so brittle. There are steps and formulas there as well that should be followed.
I won't bore you with more details at this point, but wanted to point out that there is a science to hardening steel and if it's just a chunk of steel that say you want to use as an anvil you may get away with just heating it and dipping it in oil, but if you are talking about a lathe tool that will have stress applied and if it breaks could fly off and kill you I'd make sure you do it right.
Hope that helps.
Dan |  
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08-03-2009, 11:05 PM
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#3 | | Site Programmer
Name: Jim Campbell City: Hillsborough State: NC County: Orange Join Date: Feb 2006 Age: 39 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 7.00 over 180 days | Re: Oil Hardened Steel
Yupper, not a simple question to answer.
It would help if you could share the Enco part number.
I'd also suggest looking at some of the metalworking DVD's for rent over at smartflix.com They have quite a few that cover this topic in greater detail.
Its loads of fun though, and you get to play with fire!!
Jim
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08-04-2009, 09:17 AM
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#4 |
Name: Andy City: Cary State: NC County: Wake Join Date: Mar 2008 Age: 50 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.53 over 180 days | Re: Oil Hardened Steel
Take a look at this page: http://caribooblades.homestead.com/makingahook.html
It is about makinga carving tool, but has a very good (IMO) explanation and instrustions for annealing, hardening and tempering that I have seen. Getting a piece of ceramic wool is on my to do list; in fact, I need to go post that on the "where can I find?" | |
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08-04-2009, 10:17 AM
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#5 | | Administrator
Name: Chad City: Hookerton State: NC County: Greene Join Date: Feb 2006 Age: 55 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 7.00 over 180 days | Re: Oil Hardened Steel
Well you probably got O1. The best way to harden it your self is heat it up cherry red and keep it cherry red for about 5 - 10 min. then put it in oil and move it around and around, then let cool on a table.. Then when your wife is not looking turn your oven on 300, once the oven is preheated put the part in the oven for about 45 mins to a 1 hr. let cool and it should be about 46 to maybe 50 Rc..
If you want to heat treat it right? Send to East Carolina Heat Treat..
or If you no someone with a heat treat oven they can get it up to 58 Rc.
Most all punch and shear die are made of O1, A2, or D2 harden to 58 Rc. I have made 100s in my life..
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Chad Pen turning is fast and fun!
It is highly addictive!
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08-05-2009, 06:05 AM
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#7 | | Administrator
Name: Chad City: Hookerton State: NC County: Greene Join Date: Feb 2006 Age: 55 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 7.00 over 180 days | Re: Oil Hardened Steel
Originally Posted by Splinter  As Per my Post-
Home Hardening of O-1 The best way to harden it your self is heat it up cherry red and keep it cherry red for about 5 - 10 min. then put it in oil and move it around and around, then let cool on a table.. Then when your wife is not looking turn your oven on 300, once the oven is preheated put the part in the oven for about 45 mins to a 1 hr. let cool and it should be about 46 to maybe 50 Rc.. Home Hardening of A-2
The best way to harden it your self is heat it up cherry red and keep it cherry red for about 5 - 10 min. then put on a steel block or table, and let cool. Then when your wife is not looking turn your oven on 300, once the oven is preheated put the part in the oven for about 45 mins to a 1 hr. let cool and it should be about 46 to maybe 50 Rc..
__________________
Chad Pen turning is fast and fun!
It is highly addictive!
All your free time you once had will become a thing of the past!!
And Down The Dark Side Of Woodworking You! Will!
Goooooo!!
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08-05-2009, 09:18 AM
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#8 |
Name: Dolan Brown City: Wallace State: NC County: Duplin Join Date: Dec 2005 Age: 61 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 5.09 over 180 days | Re: Oil Hardened Steel
Thanks Chad.
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You can't work without tools.
So many tools so little money. | |
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08-07-2009, 11:43 AM
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#9 |
Name: Barry City: Davidson State: NC County: Cabarrus Join Date: Dec 2007 Age: 40 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 2.92 over 180 days | Re: Oil Hardened Steel
When dunk it oil be sure to move tip to back and never side to side. Side to side action could and probably will warp the piece. If done properly O1 can reach the mid 60's in RC before tempering.
Here is a very good link on heat treating O1 http://www.threeplanes.net/toolsteel.html
Another good link with lots of info http://www.crucibleservice.com/esele...eralpart2.html
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