D.I.Y. Heat Treat

tim8557

tim8557

Joined
Nov 13, 2004
Messages
878
I think I read a thread whereby Blackheart had purchased a cheap Chinese knockoff that surprised him with the quality. He said that he was going to Heat Treat it. I always assumed that this was something that needed to be done in some highly controlled, state of the art facility. I also have no clue how it's done either. :o

Is this something that us "tinkerers" can do at home? :eek:
 
I watched a wood working show on PBS one time. I wish I could remember what the show was called, maybe it will come to me later. Anyways the man ground his own chisels, heat treated them, and all. He made an "oven" out of regular old bricks, made one of those blowers that you squeeze and air comes out. Anyways he would stick the metal in until it was a certain color, then either let it cool against a piece of room temp steel or put it in and out of a bath of I believe water (maybe some kind of oil?)... Gosh I wish I could remember more of it or at least the title. AHHHHH I remember now, it was on "The Woodright's Shop", great show! I'm sure this post was of little help, but I'm 100% sure somebody else will come along with a better one. :p
 
Visit the knifemakers forums here at BFC.

You should be able to find some threads over there on heat treating, as well as how to's on making an oven.
 
Briefly, carbon steels are pretty easy to heattreat with homemade equipment. Stainless steels such as that Chinese knockoff are not.

ThreadMoving.jpg
 
Yes - the Woodwright's Shop...great show. I believe I saw that episode you mentioned...I wonder if his stuff is available on DVD? Hmmm....gotta go look now...:D


Oh yeah....heat-treating...(back on subject now)....I've heat-treated stainless with my homemade equipment....:p....but granted, it is certainly faster/easier/better to have it professionally heat-treated.

If you have a carbon-steel blade - you can heat up the edge with an Oxy/Acet. torch and dunk it in warm water or oil...that will quench it just fine. You can also do the same with stainless, but you won't get as much hardness. I'm certainly oversimplifying probably one of the most important processes in knifemaking....but it really can be done rather simply (as long as your expectations aren't too high...:D).
 
With carbon steel......

I use a oxy torch, mapp gas, or my forge... All of my smaller blades I use a mapp gas torch I got from a local hardware store... and place my blade on a fire brick....

easy...... use a magnet.... and I use veggie oil.... whey you temper in you kitchen it smells like you are burning fries instead of a gasket off of the old chevy with atf... LOL....LOL....

thanks.....
Daniel
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top