NuViking Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 Just wondering if anybody has worked with 4340 teel for knives or sharp tools. Now realising thecarbon content is only .40 but a low to mid 50s rockwell can be achieved through proper tempering. Just wanted to know what its like to work with for forging. Of course the nice salesman says it works great. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcraigl Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 I bought a handful of drops of 1/2" round 4340 that vary from 4 to 6" long at a hammer in a couple of years ago. I've made a pile of small punches, chisels, fullers, etc. out of them that I use for animal heads. They're short, so I made a pair of tongs that holds them well and has a built in tong-ring. You'll have to experiment with the heat treat. I don't think they're hard enough for a knife even with "proper" heat treating. I couldn't get them very hard in the oil quench that I normally use for 4140 and ended up going with a water quench / triple temper sequency to get the ends hard enough to stand up to use. The nickel content may have something to do with that? They're the only punches/chisels I have that aren't at least a little bit rusty so there is an up-side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Hale Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 I would not use steel with that low of carbon content for a small knife. There are pletny of sources for high carbon steel that is easy to get and will work for a cutting edge. PUnches are a good use for what you have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NuViking Posted March 18, 2009 Author Share Posted March 18, 2009 Thanks for the info folks. I am gonna hold off on that for awhile. Till I am ready to make differnt tools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 The nickel content may have something to do with that? They're the only punches/chisels I have that aren't at least a little bit rusty so there is an up-side. Nickel has nothing to do with it not hardening, it does reduce grain growth, so it can effect hardenability in high amounts, but those amounts usually also contain Chromium so that effect is offset. The culprit was the lack of carbon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rthibeau Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 4340 is excellent for hammers and blunt tools ,.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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