File steel, newbie question

Sorry if I ask to many question, but I have a pair of doubts about ht: will the file (yeah, I guess I'll give the file a shot treating it like a W2) require some hardening or will the temper suffice? Also, I read that temper of W2 should be done in oil when the steel has cooled down to blue (around 570F), will W2 be magnetic at that temperature? So that I can check with a magnet.
 
Also this: I've let the file cool all the evening and I've tried now to grind it a little, while it's still pratically impossible to grind more than a few millimeters of metal, it seems a little softer, but not much.
Since I'm not sure about success of the process, I would like to have some clarification about the magnitude of the change I should have experienced.
 
First off read all the links in the counts post, then re-read it.

The grinding speed is relative not only to the softness of the metal but the power of your grinder. Are you using a decently powerful grinder or a small less powerful one like a 1X30?

Do you have fresh belts?

You'll need to re-heat treat (bring to specific temp for specific period of time, then quench in prescribed method) after grinding to re-harden, then temper to bring back in some softness so it's not as brittle.

* don't forget to drill any holes while it's still in the annealed or soft state.

All the info you need is in the links in the counts post.
 
I've managed to recover three free pieces of annealed O-2 steel, (this one)
I don't think it's the perfect steel to make blades but maybe could be useful for practising. Does anyone know anything about it?
 
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Your O2 should work great for any blade shorter than a giant chopper or a sword. Not a common steel here in the US, so no personal experience. Based on its composition, tho, it should deep harden and be as hard as wood pecker lips before final tempering.
 
Sounds great! just one thing, the guy who gave me the steel said that he could do the ht for me with proper equipment, I was wondering if the final sanding should be done before or after the ht
 
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