A while ago i got a reply to a post on youtube regarding use of various steel types for making hot working tools vs use of hot working steels.
As far as i knowsteels lile H13 need a HT procedure which is not as simple as those needed in case of spring steels for instance.
5160 is a very decent blacksmith tools steel, punches and stuff like that are very usable with minimum maintainance when used properly (not overheat them too much, decent need for dressing from time to time, etc.)
Making a tool in few minutes, heat treating in the forge using minimum required tools (HT ovens and stuff) represent huge advantages imho.
So, the fellow blacksmith said H13 is not far from such simple steels, is cheap and readly available everywhere (in the US but it's similar steel 1.2344).
Ok, everything fine by now, is indeed available in Europe too and tne price is ok, i checked.
What itrigued me was his oppinion that H13 is, qoute, "very forgiving in terms of heat treatment, and tools made out of it perform much better and last forever with minimal maintenance."
My guess makes me to agree with the lasting loger with minimal performante thing , what i do not know is how true is the first half of the quote, "very forgiving"....
So my question is if you guys use H13 and how exactly do you heat treat the tools make from this type of steel?
Is it "forgiving" that meaning a simple HT using a forge and common sense is enough?
How about cooling the tool? being an air hardening type of steel, how it behave during use, how hot is too hot, can it be cooled in water, wax or other stuff, is better to use few similar tools alternating use with cooling periods , etc?
Some time ago i was looking for special steels fit for the job and H13 was one of them, i dropped the idea of using it based only on reading heat treatment instructions which to me were not simple and looked like anything but a very friendly steel for the blacksmith who makes his own tools in his simple shop.
thanks a lot for your time