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TIL that taking the time to normalize steel saves so much headache later.
I used to rush straight to quenching from the forge. Now I let it cool slowly first, and my work doesn't warp as much.
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quinn_lee396mo ago
@john_dixon61, a hinge really showed the difference? I'm shocked something that small could warp without normalizing.
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the_adam6mo ago
Quinn saying they're shocked a small hinge could warp really got me thinking. I mean, how thin was the metal on that hinge, and was it the cutting or the bending that caused the most stress before you normalized it? Idk, maybe it's just me but I've had tiny brackets go totally out of shape. Did you find that normalizing that small piece helped with anything else, like making it less brittle before you did the final harden?
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john_dixon616mo ago
Always hated warping until I tried normalizing on a simple hinge, worked like a charm.
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the_laura6mo ago
That makes total sense. Read a piece in a maker magazine about how normalizing can save small projects from warping, and they explained that even tiny parts build up stress during cutting or bending. Heat treating lets the metal relax, so it holds its shape better. It's crazy how skipping that step can ruin an otherwise perfect piece. Always thought it was just for big, fancy jobs, but it applies everywhere. What kind of heat source did you use for normalizing?
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