heat treating books

[MPMetal]

what refferances do you all find use full for heat treating.
I just picked up a oven that will let me work with higher alloy steels and I don't have any refferances that deal with them (440, ATS34, SV30 etc)
MP

[Bob Sigmon]

I just starting to do heat treating myself - I just did tons of reading and searching. I haven't gotten all my various printouts organized but here are a few links for basic info . . . .

http://www.knives.com/heatreat.html

http://www.engnath.com/public/manframe.htm

Also try searching the CKD threads using the search button above. . . just about every type of steel heat treat has been discussed at one time or another.

There is heat treat info available at many steel mfg sites but be careful because the time that they list are for thick cross sections of steel not a thin knife blade. You will seldom need to soak at temp for over 10-15 min.

Good Luck and if you have any specific questions, crertainly ask away!

Bob Sigmon

[Don Cowles]

The single book that absolutely was the most valuable to me is "Heat Treatment, Selection, and Application of Tool Steels" by Bill Bryson. It is available at Amazon.

[MPMetal]

thanks for the help
I was looking more for a shop refferance than were to look online for the info.
that book sounds like the ticket... I'll just add that to my X-mass list.
MP

[Jerry Hossom]

You won't find many of the popular knife steels in HT books. They just aren't all included there. The books are written more for tool and die makers and address different geometries than knife blades. The best source of information is in these forums, where many have worked out and tested their own preferred schedules.