Sk

Steve knight

21/03/2006 7:59 PM

Is your plane iron too soft?

It seems my heat treaters seem to have let me down. I have found
atleast a few soft irons. I know they started around 10/1/05.
This last batch of irons I found they had warped almost ½ my batch of
irons. Someone really messed up since I bet I have not had 10 warped
irons in 3000 irons or so. Then I got a couple of complaints about
soft irons. So I bought some hardness testing files and I found a few
more.
I have not had a chance to check my whole supply to see how bad I
stand. But since 20 or so irons are too warped to use I am low on
irons.
If you think your iron is soft try running a file on the top and see
if it digs in. seems if they are soft they are around rc45 or 50. I
will replace the irons as soon as possible. I just ordered more steel
and hope to have another heat treater within three weeks.


This topic has 16 replies

Sk

Steve knight

in reply to Steve knight on 21/03/2006 7:59 PM

31/03/2006 10:56 AM

O
>There was no indication in your earlier response that you were seeing info
>on a do-all machine. As always, Google is your friend. I don't know if
>commercial heat treaters have their production automated to the point that
>parts go in one end, get heated, quenched in oil, tempered and finished
>parts come out the other end. I would especially wonder about it when they
>do what I assume is a relatively small batch that Steve would have. My
>suspicion is that it would be somewhat more manual.

the process is not automated with my irons. yes I do maybe 100 pounds
at a time every three months.

tt

"todd"

in reply to Steve knight on 21/03/2006 7:59 PM

22/03/2006 12:32 PM

"Enoch Root" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> todd wrote:
>> Carbon steels are quenched and tempered to produce a product with a
>> certain
>> amount of hardness without being too brittle. It's possible that the
>> material was brought up to temperature and quenched properly. It's more
>> likely that the tempering process was at too high a temperature. I
>> suppose
>> it's even possible that the steel wasn't the correct alloy to begin with.
>
> That's why I'm asking about tempering, and not hardening. But I was
> hoping, and fishing for, an explanation (or link) that would include a
> juicy description of a machine that does all that and a bag of chips,
> where you just put your blades on a cookie sheet and pop it in the "oven".

There was no indication in your earlier response that you were seeing info
on a do-all machine. As always, Google is your friend. I don't know if
commercial heat treaters have their production automated to the point that
parts go in one end, get heated, quenched in oil, tempered and finished
parts come out the other end. I would especially wonder about it when they
do what I assume is a relatively small batch that Steve would have. My
suspicion is that it would be somewhat more manual.

todd

DD

David

in reply to Steve knight on 21/03/2006 7:59 PM

31/03/2006 11:11 AM

Steve knight wrote:
> On Wed, 22 Mar 2006 14:34:30 -0800, David <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>>Steve knight wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>> If you think your iron is soft try running a file on the top and see
>>>if it digs in.
>>
>>
>>Ouch!!! I think I'll keep files away from my iron, Steve. :)
>>
>
> I have nto found too many but any upsets me.

ah, I was making a joke about my "iron", Steve. <g>

Dave

CC

"Chip Chester"

in reply to Steve knight on 21/03/2006 7:59 PM

22/03/2006 10:26 PM


By the way, anyone notice the proactive, do-right-by-the-customer,
not-hiding-under-a-rock customer service going on here?

"Chip"

"Steve knight" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> It seems my heat treaters seem to have let me down. I have found
> atleast a few soft irons. I know they started around 10/1/05.
> This last batch of irons I found they had warped almost ½ my batch of
> irons. Someone really messed up since I bet I have not had 10 warped
> irons in 3000 irons or so. Then I got a couple of complaints about
> soft irons. So I bought some hardness testing files and I found a few
> more.
> I have not had a chance to check my whole supply to see how bad I
> stand. But since 20 or so irons are too warped to use I am low on
> irons.
> If you think your iron is soft try running a file on the top and see
> if it digs in. seems if they are soft they are around rc45 or 50. I
> will replace the irons as soon as possible. I just ordered more steel
> and hope to have another heat treater within three weeks.
>

ER

Enoch Root

in reply to Steve knight on 21/03/2006 7:59 PM

21/03/2006 9:07 PM

Steve knight wrote:
> It seems my heat treaters seem to have let me down. I have found
> atleast a few soft irons. I know they started around 10/1/05.
> This last batch of irons I found they had warped almost ½ my batch of
> irons. Someone really messed up since I bet I have not had 10 warped
> irons in 3000 irons or so. Then I got a couple of complaints about
> soft irons. So I bought some hardness testing files and I found a few
> more.
> I have not had a chance to check my whole supply to see how bad I
> stand. But since 20 or so irons are too warped to use I am low on
> irons.
> If you think your iron is soft try running a file on the top and see
> if it digs in. seems if they are soft they are around rc45 or 50. I
> will replace the irons as soon as possible. I just ordered more steel
> and hope to have another heat treater within three weeks.

I don't understand... 'course, I have a primitive idea of heat treatment.

Is the temperature too high during the tempering phase?

er
--
email not valid

ER

Enoch Root

in reply to Steve knight on 21/03/2006 7:59 PM

21/03/2006 11:18 PM

Steve knight wrote:
>>Carbon steels are quenched and tempered to produce a product with a certain
>>amount of hardness without being too brittle. It's possible that the
>>material was brought up to temperature and quenched properly. It's more
>>likely that the tempering process was at too high a temperature. I suppose
>>it's even possible that the steel wasn't the correct alloy to begin with.
>>
>>If I was Steve, I'd consider either picking up a used Rockwell tester to
>>check my stuff or get my heat treater to submit sample test results.
>>
>
>
> I don't know what they have been doing. since they do test a bunch of
> blades and give me a report.
> they used to not have a problem. makes me wonder of they temper in a
> bunc hof batches or what. I got some hardness testing files. they
> were cost effective and I can check a lot of irons fast. so far I have
> only had two complaints.

Oh, your heat treaters are made of meat.

Never mind!

er
--
email not valid

ER

Enoch Root

in reply to Steve knight on 21/03/2006 7:59 PM

21/03/2006 11:17 PM

todd wrote:
> "Enoch Root" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>Steve knight wrote:
>>
>>>It seems my heat treaters seem to have let me down. I have found
>>>atleast a few soft irons. I know they started around 10/1/05.
>>> This last batch of irons I found they had warped almost ½ my batch of
>>>irons. Someone really messed up since I bet I have not had 10 warped
>>>irons in 3000 irons or so. Then I got a couple of complaints about
>>>soft irons. So I bought some hardness testing files and I found a few
>>>more.
>>> I have not had a chance to check my whole supply to see how bad I
>>>stand. But since 20 or so irons are too warped to use I am low on
>>>irons.
>>> If you think your iron is soft try running a file on the top and see
>>>if it digs in. seems if they are soft they are around rc45 or 50. I
>>>will replace the irons as soon as possible. I just ordered more steel
>>>and hope to have another heat treater within three weeks.
>>
>>I don't understand... 'course, I have a primitive idea of heat treatment.
>>
>>Is the temperature too high during the tempering phase?
>>
>>er
>>--
>>email not valid
>
>
> Carbon steels are quenched and tempered to produce a product with a certain
> amount of hardness without being too brittle. It's possible that the
> material was brought up to temperature and quenched properly. It's more
> likely that the tempering process was at too high a temperature. I suppose
> it's even possible that the steel wasn't the correct alloy to begin with.

That's why I'm asking about tempering, and not hardening. But I was
hoping, and fishing for, an explanation (or link) that would include a
juicy description of a machine that does all that and a bag of chips,
where you just put your blades on a cookie sheet and pop it in the "oven".

er
--
email not valid

VB

"Vic Baron"

in reply to Steve knight on 21/03/2006 7:59 PM

23/03/2006 10:24 PM

I have 3 of his planes - they and he are first class all the way!

I never realized how much fun it could be to plane wood until I used one of
Steve's planes.

Thanx Steve!

Vic

"Tom Banes" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Only own 1 of his planes, waiting on his next sale to get another. The
> planes are beautiful, the man behind them has an equivalent attitude.
>
> Many thanks Steve, you're one of the good ones!
>
> Tom
>
> On Wed, 22 Mar 2006 22:26:48 GMT, "Chip Chester"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>
>>By the way, anyone notice the proactive, do-right-by-the-customer,
>>not-hiding-under-a-rock customer service going on here?
>>
>>"Chip"
>>
>

TB

Tom Banes

in reply to Steve knight on 21/03/2006 7:59 PM

23/03/2006 3:58 PM

Only own 1 of his planes, waiting on his next sale to get another. The
planes are beautiful, the man behind them has an equivalent attitude.

Many thanks Steve, you're one of the good ones!

Tom

On Wed, 22 Mar 2006 22:26:48 GMT, "Chip Chester"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>By the way, anyone notice the proactive, do-right-by-the-customer,
>not-hiding-under-a-rock customer service going on here?
>
>"Chip"
>

tt

"todd"

in reply to Steve knight on 21/03/2006 7:59 PM

21/03/2006 11:50 PM

"Enoch Root" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Steve knight wrote:
>> It seems my heat treaters seem to have let me down. I have found
>> atleast a few soft irons. I know they started around 10/1/05.
>> This last batch of irons I found they had warped almost ½ my batch of
>> irons. Someone really messed up since I bet I have not had 10 warped
>> irons in 3000 irons or so. Then I got a couple of complaints about
>> soft irons. So I bought some hardness testing files and I found a few
>> more.
>> I have not had a chance to check my whole supply to see how bad I
>> stand. But since 20 or so irons are too warped to use I am low on
>> irons.
>> If you think your iron is soft try running a file on the top and see
>> if it digs in. seems if they are soft they are around rc45 or 50. I
>> will replace the irons as soon as possible. I just ordered more steel
>> and hope to have another heat treater within three weeks.
>
> I don't understand... 'course, I have a primitive idea of heat treatment.
>
> Is the temperature too high during the tempering phase?
>
> er
> --
> email not valid

Carbon steels are quenched and tempered to produce a product with a certain
amount of hardness without being too brittle. It's possible that the
material was brought up to temperature and quenched properly. It's more
likely that the tempering process was at too high a temperature. I suppose
it's even possible that the steel wasn't the correct alloy to begin with.

If I was Steve, I'd consider either picking up a used Rockwell tester to
check my stuff or get my heat treater to submit sample test results.

todd

Sk

Steve knight

in reply to Steve knight on 21/03/2006 7:59 PM

22/03/2006 8:43 AM

On Wed, 22 Mar 2006 01:55:15 -0500, Bradford Chaucer
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Where did you get them and what did they cost??

I bet I paid a bit too much but I got them from mcmaster.

Sk

Steve knight

in reply to Steve knight on 21/03/2006 7:59 PM

31/03/2006 10:57 AM

On Wed, 22 Mar 2006 14:34:30 -0800, David <[email protected]> wrote:

>Steve knight wrote:
>
>
>> If you think your iron is soft try running a file on the top and see
>> if it digs in.
>
>
>Ouch!!! I think I'll keep files away from my iron, Steve. :)
>
I have nto found too many but any upsets me.

BC

Bradford Chaucer

in reply to Steve knight on 21/03/2006 7:59 PM

22/03/2006 1:55 AM

Where did you get them and what did they cost??


> I got some hardness testing files. they
>were cost effective and I can check a lot of irons fast. so far I have
>only had two complaints.

ER

Enoch Root

in reply to Steve knight on 21/03/2006 7:59 PM

22/03/2006 9:25 PM

Chip Chester wrote:
> By the way, anyone notice the proactive, do-right-by-the-customer,
> not-hiding-under-a-rock customer service going on here?

Now you mention it. :)

er
--
email not valid

DD

David

in reply to Steve knight on 21/03/2006 7:59 PM

22/03/2006 2:34 PM

Steve knight wrote:


> If you think your iron is soft try running a file on the top and see
> if it digs in.


Ouch!!! I think I'll keep files away from my iron, Steve. :)

dave

Sk

Steve knight

in reply to Steve knight on 21/03/2006 7:59 PM

21/03/2006 10:13 PM


>
>Carbon steels are quenched and tempered to produce a product with a certain
>amount of hardness without being too brittle. It's possible that the
>material was brought up to temperature and quenched properly. It's more
>likely that the tempering process was at too high a temperature. I suppose
>it's even possible that the steel wasn't the correct alloy to begin with.
>
>If I was Steve, I'd consider either picking up a used Rockwell tester to
>check my stuff or get my heat treater to submit sample test results.
>

I don't know what they have been doing. since they do test a bunch of
blades and give me a report.
they used to not have a problem. makes me wonder of they temper in a
bunc hof batches or what. I got some hardness testing files. they
were cost effective and I can check a lot of irons fast. so far I have
only had two complaints.


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