What happens to metal

SVcummins · Nov 27, 2021

What changes in metal after years of being heated like a branding iron its gets cold almost as soon as you quit heating it

Janicholson · Nov 27, 2021

Metals (iron) don't change there specific heat with heat history. They do change their molecular grain structure, and can become brittle and weak. The conductivity of iron may draw heat down connections and struts, to colder areas, but thorough heating should reduce most of that. Cooler weather always cools things faster, and substantially. Jim

37 chief · Nov 27, 2021

The metal probably gets thinner. Ever time it's heated a little flakes off, is my guess. Stan

Geo-TH,In · Nov 27, 2021

SV
Only a guess.
Rust acts like an insulator.
Iron isn't coming up to full temp.
You thinking it's cooling faster.

Best way to prove this idea is to use an IR thermometer. Measure temp with without
rust and without rust.

The heat energy stored is also based on mass of metal. The iron is rusting away and weighs less.

Steve@Advance · Nov 27, 2021

George, I'm guessing the other way, the rust acts like mini cooling fins, drawing the heat away as there is greater exposed surface area.

Still, just a guess...

SVcummins · Nov 27, 2021

It gets white hot but within 5 minutes its ice cold and the handle doesnt get warm

stevieb49829 · Nov 27, 2021

Could be the metallurgy changed a bit through all those heat cycles, but that shouldn't make a significant difference on its heat dissipation. Probably the rust insulation scenario like George and Steve suggest.

Geo-TH,In · Nov 27, 2021

Answer, clean off rust.

Geo-TH,In · Nov 27, 2021

Attached a cordless battery.

cjunrau · Nov 27, 2021

we made ours from brass, and freeze branded instead of hot. No hassles after that.

SVcummins · Nov 27, 2021

Not to much of a hassle brand one stick the iron back in the box and by the time the next was is ready its hot again but when your done and take it off the heat its cold to the touch almost immediately

caterpillar guy · Nov 27, 2021

I don't see any rust on that iron. Now maybe it had some at the start of the season though. And yes mass will affect heat holding and cooling times. Though no more than you are talking there for mass I would not think it would matter much. Maybe try holding a magnet along the bottom of it when it is red hot to realign the molecular structure of the iron. They do that to railroad rails to help keep the expansion contraction rates down on rails when in use on the line. They do it as they come out of the heat.

SVcummins · Nov 27, 2021

Almost no rust on the brand itself

rockcreek4630 · Nov 27, 2021

We have found dump rake strippers, fence stretches, or old files make the best irons they seem to hold the heat .

used red MN · Nov 27, 2021

When carbon steel is heated to the temperature it can just be seen as a dull red in the dark it starts leeching carbon. I am not sure what chemical effect this has on the steel as far as retaining heat. I do believe the answer is the surface change of the steel from repeated heating referred to as oxidizing. That ..oxidized.. coating heats up and the heat does not dissipate into the full thickness of the steel. So in affect the temp of the steel is not what it seems. Secondly, there is a consideration many do not know about when using an infrared thermometer. The temperature taken by infrared before and after the item is buffed can by influenced a surface condition called emissivity. This is a term used to describe the absorption and reflection of infrared radiation from a surface. In general a shiny surface such as a buffed area can give you an erroneous reading. Although in this case it may not be a huge difference. A shiny chrome surface will generally give a mistakenly high temperature. My day to day work is using infrared to measure temperatures that are mostly between 500 & 2000F

SVcummins · Nov 28, 2021

I dont have an infared thermometer anymore . It does Sound like some change has happened to the metal over 20 years of heating and cooling from what you said

SVcummins · Nov 28, 2021

How do you make a file into a shape ? I see guys make Spurs out of them so if you heat it hot enough will they become Malleable

ReginaldPorter · Nov 28, 2021

(quoted from post at 13:03:59 11/27/21) SV
Only a guess.
Rust acts like an insulator.
Iron isn't coming up to full temp.
You thinking it's cooling faster.

Best way to prove this idea is to use an IR thermometer. Measure temp with without
rust and without rust.

The heat energy stored is also based on mass of metal. The iron is rusting away and weighs less.

Rusting is very dangerous for metals. It can be slow but it is ruin any metal

Janicholson · Nov 28, 2021

Yes. Files are high carbon steel. 115 to 125 points of carbon. 1.2%. They bend like any other AISI 1XXX steel when at red heat. They are brittle and not easily attached to handles. They also remain pretty hard when normalized by just cooling in air. Plain Low carbon Steel, with 20 points of carbon is way easier to form even cold. Jim

rockcreek4630 · Nov 28, 2021

Forge works the easiest but a torch with a rosebud works.

What happens to metal

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