First HT - Need file test help

V

Valdezrl

Joined
Nov 17, 2015
Messages
31
I just finished my first HT on a knife using 1095. I did not heat the handle to non-magnetic and the file seems to bite in as expected. On the blade I checked multiple points to ensure non-magnetic and quenched in brine. The file seems to skate across, but still leaves fine scratches. Tested on an area that I sanded off the black post-HT coating.

Is this to be expected or is my hardening possibly not complete? Just wanted some guidance through this first HT.

Thanks.
 
I'm sure those more experienced than myself will chime in soon, but I wouldn't worry about fine scratches from the file. As long as you can feel the distinct difference of it biting into the non hardened handle and not biting the hardened blade. After all, hardened steel is still sandable, which in essence is scratching the steel.
 
It seems that your blade has hardened but it's hard to tell how much with a file. You could run it by a machine shop and see if they will test it for you. If they make tooling then they will have a hardness tester.
 
You probably still have a little decarb layer even after sanding the HT scale off. I think you'll find it appears harder as you finish the edge bevels.
 
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