Annealing?

[Lukas]

OK, so I've had some trouble getting my hands on high carbon steel around here and have decided to make a knife blade from a file. Since this is tool steel, I assume the carbon content to be relatively high. However, for knife purposes, it is also too brittle, so I've decided to anneal the spine of the blade once finished. The question is, how do I do this? I had considered simply heating the spine with a blow torch for around 15-20 minutes and then letting it cool slowly, however, I'm not sure this is really the right way to do it. I don't know much at all about heat treating and I do not have access to a forge. Anyone have any ideas, input appreciated.
Lukas

 

[mete]

I'm not sure it would be 'too brittle' if tempered properly. However once you have hardened and tempered the knife , if you want to temper the spine more the edge can be put in water and the torch played along the spine. Be patient and keep the torch moving .

 

[Barkes Knife Shop]

OK, so I've had some trouble getting my hands on high carbon steel around here and have decided to make a knife blade from a file. Since this is tool steel, I assume the carbon content to be relatively high. However, for knife purposes, it is also too brittle, so I've decided to anneal the spine of the blade once finished. The question is, how do I do this? I had considered simply heating the spine with a blow torch for around 15-20 minutes and then letting it cool slowly, however, I'm not sure this is really the right way to do it. I don't know much at all about heat treating and I do not have access to a forge. Anyone have any ideas, input appreciated.
Lukas

Check out http://www.admiralsteel.com/ they have it all. Hope you have a great New Year.

Barkes

http://my.hsonline.net/wizard/knifeshop
1.812.526.6390

 

[A C Richards]

LuKas,
First I would recommend reveiwing some posts on Heat Treating. You are going to want to anneal the entire file. attempting to grind a file in the full hard state is a bear. Then do your grinding and re-heat treat the final blade. If you have not obtained any books yet I would recommend Wayne Goddards $50 knife shop. Getting this to Toronto will be easier than steel. It reviews almost everything you need to know about making a knife including finding used materials and how to treat them. Good luck

Chuck

 

[Robert Mayo]

Lukas if you want some steel check the closest place on the list. Go to the store they always have a shelf of small pieces.
http://www.metalsupermarkets.com/MSC-storefinder.aspx?map=ONTARIO&Region=ON&City=Ottawa
Bob

 

[son_of_bluegrass]

Lukas
what, with as much detail as possible, do you propose to due to change the file to a knife?

Just grind an edge? Shape a handle? Trying to leave the current heat treat or are you interested in heat treating when done?

Have you tried searching the forum for files?

ron