Do I need to be annealing before hardening?

[Fox]

I usually Normalize 3 times, by heating past critical then letting air cool, then harden in canola oil, then temper.

I got some 1084 and 1075. Can I use this same process or should I anneal too? should I get dry ice for cryo? is the benefits from that minimal with 1084? im finding lots of conflicting info as always on the internet.

[Morgan]

No experience with cryo, but I just normalize a few times before hardening a forged blade. It seems to lessen warps and cracks for me. If doing stock removal with good bought steel of a known quality, I don’t normalize, I just go straight to the quench. The steel I buy is annealed soft and hasn’t been heated repeatedly and beat on. I’ve never had any issue doing it that way. A piece of rail clip or leaf spring that you’ve had to beat to death definitely benefits from normalization

[Don W]

No experience with cryo, but I just normalize a few times before hardening a forged blade. It seems to lessen warps and cracks for me. If doing stock removal with good bought steel of a known quality, I don’t normalize, I just go straight to the quench. The steel I buy is annealed soft and hasn’t been heated repeatedly and beat on. I’ve never had any issue doing it that way. A piece of rail clip or leaf spring that you’ve had to beat to death definitely benefits from normalization

I do exactly the same.

[Fox]

Okay thanks guys

[TRiggs]

You can find all the info you need for quench and temper at Alpha Knife Supply just look up the steel your using and it's all there.

[Fox]

You can find all the info you need for quench and temper at Alpha Knife Supply just look up the steel your using and it's all there.

Thats where I ordered from TRiggs from Your advice earlier, they are a super nice company... There isn't heat treat info on the 1084 yet though..

[Digital Caveman]

Do you know if it is hot or cold rolled?  I'm learning there can be a substantial difference.

On second thought, it may not matter since you are repeatedly heating it so high.

[WavingHandsForge]

You won't see much of a difference with cryo on simple carbons like 1084, 1075, and 1095. Best bet for a harder blade would be to use quench oils like parks 50 or AAA from Jantz. Thermocycling or normalizing should be in increments of hotter to colder than non-megnetic for quench. Theres an app for a cell phone simply called "heat treat". You can plug in the steel type then base temperature off of color with a color chart on Google and it'll get you pretty close. Hopefully this helps!

Jarrod

[Fox]

Thanks! that is helpful