[Woodcarver] Re:performing cryogenics on wood

[Victor Hamburger]

Jim O'Dea wrote:

> A company in Omaha, NE is offering a service to perform  cryogenics 

> (freezing at 300* below zero) on carving tools. 

>  

> Has anyone tried this? Is there any metallurgists out there that could 

> comment on the effect on our tools?


Jim,

I have a plane blade from Hock (replacement blade) that is treated this way.  In 
a big Stanley #7 plane, 2 3/8" wide and 22" long, this blade allows me to 
smoothly slice off a shaving that ranges from very thin to fairly thick, 
depending on my blade setting.  I don't use the plane a lot, but the blade edge 
is holding up well.

Lie-Neilson, Hock and perhaps some other high end tool manufacturers are now 
using the cryogenics process to make tougher blades that hold their edge better.

I don't believe the process makes the blade brittle in any way, but restructures 
the steel in some way to make it stay sharp longer.  See the article in FAQ #4 
here:  http://www.lie-nielsen.com/faq.php

This links you to a pdf file that discusses cyrogenics in detail.  Hope this helps.

	Vic H