Thread: Another dumb question- Cryo Treatment

Thanks. Hopefully that second temper doesn't have to be very hot. Hopefully someone can let us in on teh exact temperatures of the various stages. Also, does it have to be immediately after first temper, or can I do it on anything?

Originally Posted by khaos

Thanks. Hopefully that second temper doesn't have to be very hot. Hopefully someone can let us in on teh exact temperatures of the various stages. Also, does it have to be immediately after first temper, or can I do it on anything?

You need to have the exact specifications of the steel type to know the answer to that. Get those and I will look up what you need in the Heat Treater's Guide.

Thanks so much for all the help. I was just curious mainly. Finding the steel specifications will be hard.... I've noticed some of the Solingen blades and actually my French blade have two numbers on them, one of which is 4 digits, could this be the steel? Like Boker has 1056 and stuff, and the Dovo 1516 or 1885. If so i'll keep my eyes peeled and when I find one I'll definately ask.

Originally Posted by khaos

I've noticed some of the Solingen blades and actually my French blade have two numbers on them, one of which is 4 digits, could this be the steel? Like Boker has 1056 and stuff, and the Dovo 1516 or 1885.

Not at all. Those numbers have nothing to do with the steel type. They are only "model" numbers.

No problem. Good luck in your search. I have seen references to INOX steel that include data that cover the entire range of 300 series austenitic stainless steels. This would be okay for kitchen furniture but not blades. Some INOX labels have been applied to chrome-vanadium alloys and those would make fine blades. I think the common use is that Inox is another way of simply saying stainless steel.

The Cr-V steels will austenitize at between 980-1060 C, are air quenched and tempered between 300-500 C. With higher hardness occurring at the higher tempering temperature because it takes a lot of heat to get carbides to precipitate in these steels. Goes to show that the alloying elements really change the equations. Generally the older books show decomposition of the retained austenite was relieved by multiple tempering cycles.

Philadelph- what if the razor has two numbers on it?
Mike Blue- I assume you know this but I'm not sure, INOX is "inoxidable" ie rust proof ie stainless. So you are correct. The germans like stamping things INOX or Rostfrei (rust free) rather than stainless steel. I don't know why. Just somethign I've noticed even on my three sets of kitchen knives.