grinding & heat

[Mark Nelson]

I have seen on other post that some steel (like D2) can harden while it is being worked, so care must be taken when grinding to keep it from getting to hot. If I am grinding on, say 1 1/2inch stock, the edge can get very hot before the heat spreads to where I am holding the blade. Is there a trick to keeping this from happening? Other then learning that a given pressure, for a given time cause to much heat to build up. As you may have guessed, I am very new to this. Eager, but new. Also is this a problem for 154CM or ATS-34. Thanks for any help or suggestions.

 

[Mike Hull]

Speaking of pre heat treated blades, yes they can work harder a little. I have never seen it interfere with anything though. When I profile a knife, it gets red hot where I grind, but it's never caused me a problem drilling holes for handle pins, or grinding bevels. The belt grinders are made to remove metal. they don't care how hard it is.
After heat treat is when you really want to be careful. You don't want to take it over the tempering temperature. On some steels it can be as low as 350-400 degrees F. On others as high as 900 degrees F.
If you take it over the temperature used to temper, it will degrade the heat treat. I use bare hands grinding, and the heat starts to bother me at about 125-150 degrees F.