[Woodcarver] Cryoprocess

[Joe Dillett]

Hi Mike,

You're correct in saying this Cryoprocess needs more than a simple freezer.
Back in the early 1960's when I worked at Gisholt machine tool in Madison
Wisconsin, we did a cold process that was required for the military, using
dry ice in a large insulated box. This, I found, is not the same as the
Cryoprocess.

Part of what I found out is that the crystal structure changes in the metal
with the Cryoprocess. Among other things it completes the process of
changing the crystal structure from austinite to martinite (not sure about
the spelling). So for metals, such as A2 that is air quenched after the
1,500 degrees F heat treating, the air quenching doesn't turn all austinite
into martinite but the Cryoprocess does. Metals such as O1 are oil quenched
converting almost all austinite into martinite so the Cryoprocess has little
or no significant effect.

The Cryoprocess uses liquid nitrogen with about a 20-hour cooling down and
20-hour warm up cycle. Any carving tools would need the handles removed
because they finish up with about a +300 degree F.

Plastics are also effected (but not finished off with +300 degrees F).
Cryoprocessed golf balls are illegal for PGA.

As to the question about taking longer to sharpen, the answer is yes. If the
tool has increased toughness through Cryoprocessing it will have increased
toughness, more scratch resistant, in sharpening. However I'm told that the
increased sharpening time will pay bigger dividends in staying sharp longer.

Will it help our carving tools? Don't know, because the manufactures of
carving tools don't freely give out information about their metal and
process. We'll have to test each manufacturer to see if Cryoprocess improves
edge toughness. Because edge quality is quite subjective, standards for
sharpness have only recently been established, I suggest a test to see if
Cryoprocessing improves toughness which could be done in a comparative
lapping test. If it takes longer to lap after Cryoprocessing than we can
assume a more durable edge results from Cryoprocessing.

When asking if perhaps our carving tool manufactures are already doing
Cryoprocessing, the answer is probably not because if they were they would
be advertising it as another marketing benefit.


Joe Dillett
The Carving Shop
645 E. LaSalle St. Suite 3
Somonauk, IL. 60552
(815) 498-9290 phone
(815) 498-9249 fax
http://www.thecarvingshop.com
jdillett at thecarvingshop.com
http://www.carvingmagazine.com Carving Magazine web site and Readers Forum
**************************************************


----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike & Patty Wilcox" <mllrynaz at millry.net>
To: "[Woodcarver]" <woodcarver at six.pairlist.net>
Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2004 8:37 PM
Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] Cryoprocess


> To make a DONATION to the List using PayPal OR regular mail, click this
link: http://wwwoodcarver.com/WWWList/WWWList.html
>
> I know what you are talking about
> this isn't just a little freeze this is super cold
> & they do this inall kinds of things
> if some of you remember ladies use to freeze their nylones (sp)
> they were saying it helps alot of things
> never did see anything on it after the special I saw
> if wasn't cheap either
> so what does he pay?
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Gene and Darlene Bremmer" <bremmers at midwestinfo.com>
> To: "Woodcarver" <woodcarver at six.pairlist.net>
> Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2004 4:05 PM
> Subject: [Woodcarver] Cryoprocess
>
>
> > To make a DONATION to the List using PayPal OR regular mail, click this
> link: http://wwwoodcarver.com/WWWList/WWWList.html
> > CRYOPROCESS  now that is a word to wake you all up.  A local carver here
> is
> > having some of his carving tools done with Cryoprocess and claims they
> stay
> > sharp much, much longer.  He thinks they stay sharp 3 to 4 times longer.
> I
> > understand it is some type of freezing treatment.  I was thinking of
> getting
> > myself froze so I would last 3 or 4 times longer, but had not thought of
> my
> > carving tools.
> >
> > OK gang what do you think or know about this?  Is it worth it?
> >
> > Gene
> > Mailto:bremmers at midwestinfo.com
> > Web Site: http://bremmers.tripod.com
> > Diamond Willow Wood Web Site: http://diamondwillowwood.tripod.com
> > http://www.mnartists.org/?loc_name=viewartistfeature&artistid=2956
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
>
>
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