Edge hardness testing

[panch0]

I have started doing my own heat treating in house now, and just ht'd some ats 34. After the quench it skated a file, so it got hard. The thing that has me thinking is on the manual that came with my Even Heat oven it said that the HT specs were for 3/16" and to adjust for the thickness of the blades. Ok got that, but if you grind every blade to.015 does it really matter the thickness of the spine? Is the edge and the flat area on the handle where you test for hardness the same?

 

[KnifeMaker.ca]

I don't think there is any need to adjust for thickness Frank. Time is required to get everything into solution after it reaches temperature. The time required to get 1/16 at temperature isn't that much different than the time required to get 1/4 stock to temperature - and the soak time should be the same for either.

Rob!