Heat hardening

EmsRescueGuy

EmsRescueGuy

Joined
Oct 21, 2006
Messages
1,067
Does anyone have any evperience with heat hardening spear points. I have read about it in survival books but never really tried it. I have made a spear to cull fish once, but diddnt harden this one.

I usually have something with me (a neck knife etc) to use as a nuclear tip but I would like to know how to do it if I need to.
 
heating (not burning the heck out of it) gets rid of the moisture in the wood and you get a harder point.

After that just grind your spear point on a benchstone or rock or whatever to get it sharp again.
 
Be patient ,don't char it too much .It does work ! Even the Neanderthals knew that !!!
 
Like they said. I read somewhere (so long ago I have no idea where) that the trick is to sort of roast the wood dry, and NOT to char it.
 
I've done it a few times for fun, man it does make a hard, sturdy point. If it starts smoking, it's too close. ALso, prop the point about a foot away and to the side of the fire. Putting it over the fire puts too much heat on it. Experiment with different woods too.
 
What has already been said. :thumbup:

Find the place where your hand can barely stand to be near the fire, and prop it up right there, rotate often.

Another technique is build the fire on loose sandy soil, and get it nice and hot, and shove the point "under" the fire into the soil. Let it bake.
This method removes the water, without the presence of air, which, as we know, is what is needed for burning to happen.

You will see a noticeable difference once it's hardened.
 
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