annealing 1095 question

[Sammy Mickel]

I'm good to try and make a knife with just files, sand paper and my torch. I tried annealing my material this maorning. I drilled and cut out the pattern then heated it up to just where it was not magnetic, sort of a light orange color then buried it in vermiculite to slow down the cooling. After some work with the rasp I've got the backbone of the blade cleaned up, but it sure doesn't "peel of like soft wood" like I was told. Could you guys give me any suggestions to help out?

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[Andrew McLurkin]

Sammy, I'm not sure who you are quoting when you state it will "peal off like soft wood," because I've never had an experience with steel that reminded me of wood. Even with a belt grinder steel makes you work for any material you remove. I'm guessing that your steel is annealed if you let it cool fully as you described. If your file (rasp?) is removing a dusting of small chips with each pass then it is working as it should. I hope I didn't misunderstand your question.

 

[Sammy Mickel]

Actually it was Tommy Mcnab that told me that . Of coarse he could've just been joking. The metal is flaking off in small chips. Thanks for answering my post, I actually attended the last NC guild meeting as a visitor. You guys are pretty impressive just wish I hadn't been so quiet and talked to some of the people.

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