Heat treating just the edge

F

Frank R

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Feb 19, 2015
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17
I have a spare hatchet head that I would like to cut down to a Norlund pattern.

In addition to shortening the height of the head, it looks like I will have to cut off a bit of the lower cutting edge to get the right profile; it is currently a bit too straight.

I do not know how this has been heat treated. The head had a uniform coat of rust. I sand blasted the head and it still felt very grainy afterward. I soaked it for a couple days in vinegar but did not see any lines. I plan on cutting the head and then sanding the remainder smooth and shiny. I can then re-soak it to see if anything shows up.

My question is about localized heat treating. I do not have a forge, or a grill. I am not really interested in building anything right now either. My living situation kind of limits what I can do.

Can I use an acetylene torch to treat just the edge? The whole edge will only be about 2, maybe 2 1/2 inches long.

Can you point me at some resources that would help me do this?
 
If the heat treat was very small, it was either a really ground off antique head or a cheap chinese head with shallow treatment, these usually have poor steel, i know because i own a 4lb head that was almost never ground and the heat treatment is a little under 1".

You could heat the edge to cherry red evenly and let it air cool to remove the previous heat treatment and then reheat to cherry red and soak the edge in used motor oil (FLAMES and lots of smoke) or water if you are feeling confident.

Dont forget to bake the head in a oven afterward.

Im not a smith, i just retreated one of my axe and this worked, somewhat.
 
Thanks for the info.

I have a suspicion that this axe head is poor quality. Comparing it side by side with a Scout hatchet it is slightly larger in volume but it actually weighs less. I am now thinking the rough finish may be the original un-ground finish of a cheap axe. Is there any way I can tell if this is poor quality steel? There was nothing stamped into it.
 
usually the ring will help but only it its not hung, taping it lightly with a piece of metal, it it sound dull it might be poor quality steel.
the general softness of the head when filling at the poll might help too. not sure .
 
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