Hardening/tempering 1045 steel

[dickb]

1045 fully hardened to about 55hrc
( http://www.matsci.ucdavis.edu/MatSciLT/Other/Files/HT-Steel.pdf ).

Would it be too brittle for a hardie, chisel, punch to use as is without tempering?

[nitewatchman]

In my opinion YES.

[double_edge2]

a few on the forum, and me, have made hammers from it so i dont see why a good test is not in order...since mostly, the tool wood be manipulating hot steel(3 hits then quench for chisel)? and if not just make sure the stuff you are hitting it with is softer.
brittle most certainly, as with any treated steel i think the risk is always there of chipping more so without tempering... lol...id be wearing the safety goggles and snorkle.
worth giving it a good go for self learning and posting the results.....

Edited September 3, 2009 by double_edge2

[rokshasa]

yes you should temper it. i often dont harden my hardy cutters they just loose there hardness if your cutting something large and i never have a problem you have to be more careful about going right thrue the piece and dinging your cutter with the hammer but i twist the piece apart when im almost all the way, also saves your hammer from getting dinged from the cutting edge if something happens.

[Nakedanvil - Grant Sarver]

Do you have some or are you just speculating? Good candidate for brine quenching and draw at 400 or so. Brine=5lbs salt in 5 gallons of water.