Heat Treating Foil ?

Ricky D. Finch · Dec 19, 2004

Was heat treating a blade last night. This is the first time that the foil stuck to the blade. i double folded the ends with nothing inside, What happen?

H.L. Holbrook · Dec 19, 2004

Rick, I'v had that happen I always thought it was because I put to much paper in the pouch creating a vacuum as the oxygen depleted. But in your case I dunno??????

Ricky D. Finch · Dec 20, 2004

H.L. I had been putting paper inside and they would swell out. The one that stuck came out the cleanest.

Don Robinson · Dec 21, 2004

Ricky, I've had thiS happen a few times too. Never found out why.

WilsonKnives · Dec 21, 2004

I have had that happen several times, Seems that it happens more when I take the blades out of the foil before they cool off enought. I know a guy that happened to one time but he degreased with dawn dishwashing. Got a good laugh out of that.

Ralph Turnbull · Dec 21, 2004

The only time it ever happened to me was when I put the foil envelope
into a cool oven and let it come to heat, I had to grind the foil off. From that time forward I always put the enveople in the oven at about 1200 and let go up toheat from there. Never had the problem again. I always put a wood chip in the envelope

Ricky D. Finch · Dec 21, 2004

I put the packet in around 1900.

twisted bits · Dec 21, 2004

I have to ask this:
I presently have heat trating foil, but no oven to use it in - yet. (One day)
What exactly is the purpose of the foil - to protect the surface of the knife or to spread out the heat more evenly? Why would you put paper inside it - won't it burn (451 F) and char the blade or does this occur too quickly?

Peter Atwood · Dec 21, 2004

What kind of steel was it? Maybe it had some oil on it or something that could make it "solder" itself to the foil. I've never had the problem but I have pretty much only used stainless steels.

Peter Atwood · Dec 21, 2004

Twisted, the idea is to protect the blade from oxygen thereby yielding a cleaner blade with less scale. Less scale or no scale means less time finishing the blade. It also helps keep from losing critical dimensions like the inside of pivot holes. A piece of combustible inserted into the package will burn up excess oxygen and help keep the blade cleaner. It doesn't really work for me though. But I'm getting some new foil this week which may be higher temp foil and I may see a difference next heat treat.