papapoufis Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 Hello! I am using a homemade electric kiln(with refractory bricks) to do some light forging and heat treatment of some parts. The main steel I am using is similar to O1. However the parts out of the oven come with some grey/graphite looking scales, which I think might be decarburization. This (I think there might be some other issues with my process) reduce the surface hardness, making it harder to check with a file, and also introduce significant pitting, especially when forging, where i have to keep the part heated up for extended periods of time. Do you have any advice for reducing the oxidation? What is the simplest/cheapest method(I do not have an argon cylinder). Will borax help? Thanks for your input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnut Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 You could put the piece in a pipe filled with charcoal then put in the kiln to reduce the scaling and pitting. It should scavenge any oxygen around the piece and prevent some oxidation. Pnut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papapoufis Posted January 15, 2021 Author Share Posted January 15, 2021 Pnut, thanks for your help. This is a good idea, however how would you quench or work the part? Opening up the container would take some time. I suppose it would be practical for annealing or tempering operations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnut Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 You could maybe bury it in a box of charcoal. Perhaps a good amount of charcoal in the kiln would scavenge some of the oxygen and help with the atmosphere inside the kiln. I'm kinda just spitballing. As the day goes on some other folks will have some advice I'm sure. Pnut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 Look up heat treating foil. (Someplace like Jantz knifemaking supply...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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