1084 tempering

G

Guy Thomas

Joined
Feb 1, 2000
Messages
1,370
Please tell me I used a good temperature for tempering a neck knife I just finished heat treating made from 1084. I gave it a double draw at 375 degrees F. Sound about right?

Guy Thomas
 
Guy,

Put the edge you want on it and sharpen it up, then drag the cutting edge across a brass rod at about a 60 deg, if it doesn't chip or roll the edge over and stay rolled over, you should have it pretty close to where it should be.If it chips raise the draw temp 25 degrees and draw again, do that until it doesn't chip any more.If it rolls the edge over and it doesn't straighten it self back up, your draw temp was to high, reharden and start with a draw temp about 50 degrees cooler. Then cut a bunch of rope and have fun.
Hope this helps.

Bill
 
I just made a large camp knife out of 1084, At first I tempered at 375, but when I tried to chop through some red oak 1x2s the edge chipped slightly, I raised the temperature to 400, and still got some small chipping, at 425 the knife will chop through the oak 1x2s, and still shave when done, no visible edge damage of any kind.
For a smaller knife it could probably be left harder than what I did, so 375 would seem about right.
Kyle Fuglesten
 
Kyle and All,
I've been wondering about this too. Do you have a separate thermometer in your tempering oven? IOW, are you sure you were right at 425? What colors did that give you (dark straw, etc.?) I only ask because I hear so many different opinions.

Thanks,

John
 
John,

I use my wife's kitchen oven, she works in the evenings so I temper when she's gone, I'm not stupid. I use a oven thermometer from wal-mart, I brought 2 to check against each other to make sure they were reading the same, pretty darn close. The ovens own thermometer was off about 10 to 15 degrees at 350 and was worse the higher the temp got, so be sure and get a separate thermometer and let the oven heat up and stabilize before placing your blades in. I wipe my blades down with acetone and let stand for 15 minutes before putting in the oven to remove the quench oil, but you'll still get some smoke. I use a toaster oven in the shop for just 1-2 blades, but you have to cover the blades with something to keep the direct heat from the coils from getting to them or they will over heat, or if I put more then 2 blades in it, it causes the toaster oven to work to hard and this will cause inconsistent heat. Hope this helps.;)

Bill
 
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