"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.
Ohio3wheels hardening steel
-
- 1000 Shots
- Posts: 1650
- Joined: 03 May 2013 10:14
- Location: LaGrange Georgia
- Has thanked: 7 times
- Been thanked: 339 times
Ohio3wheels hardening steel
Don Huff
to bad those that know it all, cant do it all!
16" SS 92 357
20" BL 92 357
20" SS 92 44
20" BL 92 44
20" Bl 92 45C
20" Bl 92 454
SS Rio Grande 30-30
Bl Rio Grande 45-70
to bad those that know it all, cant do it all!
16" SS 92 357
20" BL 92 357
20" SS 92 44
20" BL 92 44
20" Bl 92 45C
20" Bl 92 454
SS Rio Grande 30-30
Bl Rio Grande 45-70
-
- 1000 Shots
- Posts: 1599
- Joined: 31 Jul 2014 15:18
- Location: Dayton Oh
- Has thanked: 227 times
- Been thanked: 328 times
Re: Ohio3wheels hardening steel
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 .
Make smoke,
Make smoke,
Curt... makin' smoke and raising my carbon foot print one cartridge at a time
-
- 2000 Shots
- Posts: 3942
- Joined: 04 Feb 2014 05:30
- Location: SoCal Loco
- Has thanked: 137 times
- Been thanked: 610 times
Re: Ohio3wheels hardening steel
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.
Always cross check McMaster Carr with Granger and vice versa. McMaster usually has the better website.
They put a lot of effort into that.