Alabama Damascus Tempering Times

[Patrice Lemée]

On their website, they say once or twice at 350F for one hour. I usually temper twice for 2 hours with the simple steels I used up to date.
What's better, 1 hour or 2?


Thanks

 

[Darrin Sanders]

I use Brad's Damascus from time to time and I always temper @350 for 2 hours 2 times.

 

[insanity]

More time at tempering temperature won't hurt anything. I set mine to cycle for 3 hours on, 1 hour off for three cycles. It is overkill, but since I use an auto timer and usually set it up to run overnight it's no more work and I know that the knife spent enough time at temperature.

Wayne Suhrbier

 

[Patrice Lemée]

Thanks Brad, 2 hours it is then.

Wayne, I am curious, is 1 hour off enough to get the blade to room temp in the oven/kiln?

 

[tattooedfreak]

Patrice, if it's the stuff I sent you, I tempered twice for 1 hour each time. I brought my oven to temp first and didnt start my time for 15 minutes after I put the blade in. I left the oven on after I took it out the first time to keep it at temp. I didn't quench, just let it air cool for 20 minutes, then put it back in for another hour. It didnt get to room temp in between but I could handle it with bare hands.

 

[Patrice Lemée]

Thanks Sean. I tempered for 2 hours twice at 350. I will finish grinding the bevels this afternoon and sharpen so I can test them. Fingers crossed!