Ohio3wheels hardening steel

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donhuff
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Ohio3wheels hardening steel

Post by donhuff »

"I too use a lot of 12L14 and have often wonder if and how well it would harden with the lead content."

From what I have read, you CAN harden 12L14, but it will only case harden when using a hardening compound like CherryRed.http://www.midwayusa.com/product/119479 ... pound-1-lb
It seems that the 12L14 does not have enough carbon in it's alloy to make it harden with heat/water like W1/O1 does. The cherry red has the extra carbon in it, and with the heat, some of that carbon moves into the steel. By varying the heat and duration of the heat, you can harden shallow like only a few thousandths, to as deep as 50-90 thousandths.

Also My understand that if trying to harden say, a sizing die. That the heat cool process will almost positively guarantee a non round hole when you are finished.

The popular idea is that when sizing brass, no hardening is neccesary. But if you want something harder than 12L14, use a stronger metal in the first place. Several suggest 4130-4140. I see McMaster Carr has 4140-4142 but then also have, "easy to machine" 41L40. I'll have to get a 7/8" stick of that next time to give it a try making a sizing die. I was going to get a piece of 4140 to use as a fake barrel by boring a .347 hole through it. Then running the reamer in it to see how my reamers works and to check dimensions. And mostly to give me an idea of how 4140 cuts, since this is what most all barrels are made of.
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Ohio3Wheels
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Re: Ohio3wheels hardening steel

Post by Ohio3Wheels »

Interesting, I'll have to see what my local metals shop has. It's a neat little place that does small order custom cut metals. I get most of my aluminum and brass there long with the occasional piece of steel. The lady that owns the place lets me play in the scrap bins also :D .

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Re: Ohio3wheels hardening steel

Post by Archer »

I don't exactly endorse them because I think their prices are high but Aircraft Spruce will provide small chunks and quick turn around of quite a few oddball materials and items. IF you are looking for affordable, especially on specialty fasteners for example I'd do a bit more hunting.

Always cross check McMaster Carr with Granger and vice versa. McMaster usually has the better website.
They put a lot of effort into that.
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