Hardening Advice

K

Ken Daniel

Joined
Apr 23, 2014
Messages
5
I am using an old cross-cut saw blade for blanks. The blanks are approximately 1/10" thick. I heat the blank in a furnace/kiln made from two hollowed-out fire bricks to cherry red then let it cool to remove the hardening. After I complete working it, I return it to the furnace, when it is cherry red, dip it in warm (150degrees) cooking oil. However, it does not hiss or create flames and there is little smoke. Am I doing something wrong? Ia the blade hardened? I need some advice.
Ken
 
Make a small practice blade. Heat treat using the same protocol. Clamp it down and carefully tap it with a hammer to see if it breaks. An un-tempered hardened blade will break easily. Fill out your profile so we can help you better.
 
The simplest test would be to hit it with a file. If the file bites it didn't harden, if it skates it hardened(at least to as hard as the file).

The best advice I can give would be to switch to a known knife steel. Even in my short time trying to make knives I have found out the hard way that it is cheaper to buy known steel than to use "free" scrap. Other than that, with the heat treat and metallurgy, that is over my pay grade to give advice on. Hopefully someone more experienced will stop in.

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