heat treating back spring on a slip joint

[bartblade]

using a charcoal forge what would be the best way to heat treat the back sping?

temp color? how long should i temper for and should i temper?

quench is tranny fluid 5160 steel thickness about 3/16ths thinner than a bar of leaf spring.

 

[Mace]

Hey Bart,
Try this....Heat till non-magnetic and quench.
Polish up the spring a bit and then draw the temper to a blue color with a torch...polish and draw to blue again. You should have a good spring after that.
Good luck.
Mace

 

[bartblade]

should i quench after drawing to blue or air cool?

 

[Mace]

Bart, I would let it air cool for a few minutes and then dunk in some water.
Remember not to turn it red with the torch.
Mace

 

[Patrickknives]

From what I have read and done, you can air cool if you dont exceed the purple. If you are getting to hot, quench to stop at purple. If you go over temp, you have to start over with the heat treat.

 

[Don Hanson III]

Hey Bart,
Try this....Heat till non-magnetic and quench.
Polish up the spring a bit and then draw the temper to a blue color with a torch...polish and draw to blue again. You should have a good spring after that.
Good luck.
Mace

This works good. Also, important not to over heat the spring when heating to quench. And when tempering, heat slowly and watch the colors, they can change quickly.