heat treating in a kiln

ScottRoush

ScottRoush

Joined
Jan 10, 2010
Messages
1,818
Or forge for that matter. How do people support their blades when heat treating in either a kiln or forge? Or is it okay to leave it laying flat on the bottom surface? Seems like you'd get more even heating with the blade supported off the bottom....
 
I use a soft firebrick with grooves hacksawed into it. If you cut only half way or less, they last pretty well. If you cut much more than that, they break after only a few uses.

That's in a HT oven, can't say about using it in a forge.
 
I have cut slots into angle iron (one edge only) that go width wise across and I can set my blades in the slots to support.
 
thanks Patrick...

so is it basically a no-no to simply lay it on the bottom? In my case.. I will have some firebrick as the bottom floor.
 
Laying a blade flat on the bottom of the kiln can readily cause uneven heating and promote warping during the quench. It's better to let the blade be "awash" in the heat. I also used carved fire bricks to hold my blades on spine. Same thing if you take a knife out to cool for a normalization. Clamp it in a vice or set it on spine, but don't lay it flat.

--nathan
 
Both Jantz and TKS sell ceramic blocks with steel pins to hold the blades. I use this system.

Milt
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top