Heat Treat 5160

[David Peters]

I've started my first ever blade- a kukri from 1/4" 5160 bar stock. I know nothing about heat treating, and my question is... If I am grinding this bar stock to its final configuration, and the steel never heats up significantly, do I still heat treat it?

 

[Blackdirt cowboy]

Welcome to the forum, David. You absolutely need to heat treat your blade. That’s what turns it from a bar of steel into a knife. Without heat treating, the steel will remain soft and won’t hold an edge. It’s necessary to harden the steel. Following your heat treatment, you will want to temper the steel in an oven to restore some toughness to o the blade. I don’t know much about the process of heat treating and tempering 5160 steel, but someone more knowledgeable will be along shortly to point you in the right direction.

 

[A.McPherson]

Hey David,
Welcome to the forum! Yes you need to heat treat a knife, no doubt... But you don't have to do it yourself.

If you don't have the equipment just send it out to someone who does it professionally.
There are several out there to choose from, but the one I always go with is a guy on this forum, JTknives .
Here's his website:
https://www.jarodtodd.com/

Also, read the "sticky" posts on the top of this forum. Basically all of the basic knife making questions you will have are answered there. Including how to heat treat 5160, knife design questions, handle questions etc. Etc. Etc.

Have fun!!

 

[David Peters]

Ok, then. Heat treat I shall. I didn't even realize sending it out for heat treating was a thing. Thanks for all the info.

 

[JTknives]

Hey David,
Welcome to the forum! Yes you need to heat treat a knife, no doubt... But you don't have to do it yourself.

If you don't have the equipment just send it out to someone who does it professionally.
There are several out there to choose from, but the one I always go with is a guy on this forum, JTknives .
Here's his website:
https://www.jarodtodd.com/

Also, read the "sticky" posts on the top of this forum. Basically all of the basic knife making questions you will have are answered there. Including how to heat treat 5160, knife design questions, handle questions etc. Etc. Etc.

Have fun!!

yeah I fully recommend that guy as well