Heat treat foil...

G

ggoose

Joined
Apr 30, 2014
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139
Just curious if heat treat foil can be used for more than a single heat treat cycle. I just purchased some and have yet to use it, but the thought occurred to me...does it become too fragile or somehow degrade after a single usage? As expensive as it is I would like to maximize its useful life. As always, thanks for any input...

-gene
 
I single wrap, But I am super careful not to let my foil sit around where it could accidentally get a hole poked in it, And before I fold it, I hold it up to the light and look for holes that may have been put there when it was cut from the roll by the supplier
 
I do a single wrap with a double fold....and, NO, it can not be re-used.
It becomes brittle as well as even more deadly in finger cutting ability.
Have a pair of large and old kitchen shears handy to snip the end off after the blade has cooled off in the quench plates.
Please wear gloves when unrolling, cutting, folding, etc. Stainless HT foil will cut you BAD if you just make the wrong move.
 
OK...single wrap, double fold, check for holes, kitchen shears to open, wear gloves, and use only once...got it. Thanks for the help.
 
yep i always say im folding razorblades (not nicked myselt in a good while folding the pouches) when im cutting them open i use a pair of plyers and have welding gloves on to keep me from gettig cut
 
John Katt said:
At a $1.50ish per blade, for me its not worth the risk
Click to expand...

To the OP, I get that you want to do your own HT. If you're needing foil you're doing stainless and have a kiln, so you can easily do what's necessary. Maybe you cryo too to get that last bit of retained austenite. Good on you, but is it worth it? The MATH:

DIY:
$1.50 per blade for foil
$.10 for kiln electricity (estimated)
$10 for time spent wrapping, moving, and especially straightening each blade (20 min at $30 an hour). You could half this number and it'd still prove the point, but you could also add back the same amount for oppotunity cost of that time, so I'll leave it as is.
add: cuts, burns, frustration, and learning curve (which might lead to some inferior blades (note I said MIGHT))
take out: satisfaction in having done something yourself and learned a new skill
Total:$11.60 per blade plus pain, frustration, and uncertainty
Pro:
$100 for 20 blades at Peter's HT. Guaranteed straight, cryoed, and HRC tested (spot checked)
$30 shipping (including time going to the PO)
Total: $125/20= $6.50 per blade, plus guaranteed results.

This is why I quit doing my own stainless. Just saying.
 
Also, most stainless requires -100F for full martensite conversion so add in the code of dry ice, etc.
 
while the pros have there own HT for steels (and the good ones will tweak it a bit if you ask nicely)
i believe HT is so key to the knife tht i must do it myself. my kiln and LN tank were my first 2 large buys
 
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