[Woodcarver] Re:performing cryogenics on wood

[Ivan Whillock]

My concern for "toughness" in cryogenically treated steel is reflected in
this quote  (from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryogenic_tempering) and
others I've read about the process:

"Cryogenic hardening is a heat treatment in which the material is cooled to
cryogenic temperatures, usually using liquid nitrogen. It can have a
profound effect on the mechanical properties of certain steels, provided
their composition and prior heat treatment are such that they retain some
austenite at room temperature. It is designed to increase the amount of
martensite in the steel's crystal structure, increasing its strength and
hardness, sometimes at the cost of toughness."

I have no personal experience with the treatment, but based on some things
I've read,  I would be cautious about sending my carving tools to be treated
without knowing whether they would retain their toughness.

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