Eric Morgan Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 I hope I didn't put this in the wrong section, but while at work musing about heat treating, decarburization specifically, I wondered if coating the pieces to be heat treated with flux would help prevent decarburization. I did a search here, but didn't find anything specific to using flux as a decarb preventative. I don't imagine it would hurt anything, and would think it a thin enough layer to not affect the cooling curve of the quench, but I'm quite new at this... Has anyone used this "method" before? If so, what sort of results did you have? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kehler Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 In his book; "the hand forged knife" Karl Schroen describes using a saturated borax solution to lightly coat his blades before heat treatment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsoldat Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 I'm thinking that fluxing for heat treat has more to do with scale prevention than decarb. But that's more of a guess on my part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Morgan Posted April 29, 2016 Author Share Posted April 29, 2016 My thought process was that coating the blade with flux would create an oxygen barrier, or at least restrict access to the blade while heating... Again, I'm quite new so this is all just half-baked theories of mine lol 38 minutes ago, Jim Kehler said: In his book; "the hand forged knife" Karl Schroen describes using a saturated borax solution to lightly coat his blades before heat treatment. Jim, does he mention his reason? I haven't read that book... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 Fluxing will prevent oxy contact. I could be mistaken but I thought decarb was the carbon being burned out of the surface so preventing oxy contact should prevent decarb. That's just my intuitive thought about the question I don't "know". Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRS Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 I use it for stamps and touchmarks with good sucess, just give it a even, thin coat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kehler Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 To prevent scaling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 If it prevents oxidation it's preventing decarburization. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Morgan Posted April 29, 2016 Author Share Posted April 29, 2016 Thanks for the responses guys... When I get the chance, I'll do two test coupons from the same bar, one with and one without flux to see what, if any, difference it makes... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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