heat treating oven info

M

medieval

Joined
Dec 21, 2005
Messages
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I have tried a number of times to search for any discussions related to heat treating ovens, all to no avail. :grumpy: So, I'll try starting a thread. :( What I really want to find is info on building your own oven. Right now I am using the kitchen stove. :) It's OK for simple tempering, but I want to try some more exotic steels and want to follow the correct heat treating cycle. I made a knife from a broken drill bit recently, needless to say I can't drill a hole in the tang. I thought it may have been O-1, but was told (by Wayne Goddard) that it was probably M-2. M-2 requires a very controlled process to anneal. I can't justify $1000 for a HT oven, and was hoping that someone knows of a parts kit, or other instructions, for said HT oven. :confused: Thank you.
 
A simple forge and some practice can get you great heat treats. Most people I think use relatively inexpensive 20lb propane tank powered mini forges.
 
ummm, well for one thing you might be looking on the wrong forum.
Click on "Makers" at the top of the page. Then choose "shoptalk".

OR
Click Search
click "advanced search" on the popup
enter "oven" or "treat", not both and no quotes
select "search titles only"
select "makers forums, shoptalk"

Click Search

Wait 30 sec

couple of hundred hits with either term. Some of them should be what you want.
 
Please read Sticky: Search Engine FAQs & Tips I think "heat" is the word that's overloading it; remove that word from your search terms and it should work.

moving-van.jpg
 
Why don't you just get some 1095 steel online? You can use files to shape it and charcoal to heat treat. Starting with a drill bit is not a good idea IMHO.
 
midieval,

Try 500 degrees for 2 hours to anneal. It is my understanding that most drill bits are W1 or W2 steel. That's why about the only Water Quench steel you can buy nowadays is Drill Rod. Just guessing though. Try contacting Mete. He is really sharp on metallurgy.

chiger,
 
IMO it's actually cheaper overall to use someone else to do you heat treating, but of course you lose control over the process. However, unless you want to produce hamons you don't need to do it yourself, unless you think you know more about heat treating than the heat treaters.
 
chiger said:
midieval,

Try 500 degrees for 2 hours to anneal. It is my understanding that most drill bits are W1 or W2 steel. That's why about the only Water Quench steel you can buy nowadays is Drill Rod. Just guessing though. Try contacting Mete. He is really sharp on metallurgy.

chiger,
Click to expand...

500 degs for two hours wont do it and most drill bits are not W1, W2, most are high speed, high alloy stuff. Drill rod is just a term for precision ground rod and can be found in a number of alloys.
 
I want to thank everyone supplying information in this thread. I have started using a old pottery kiln for my heat treat and it takes over an hour to hit 1500.I mostly do 1095/15n20 or 1095/nickel damascus or Nickels files and some 5160. Now I can look at a remodel and and make it what I really want. I would like to start some stainless and a better oven is a nessecity for the good HT.
 
Medieval, what is your goal when you say exotic steels? Two of the best resources for information is the current heat treaters guide for iorn and steels, and elementary metallurgy and basic heat treating for carbon steels. The best advice is to throw away the drill bits and find good "known type of steel". YOUR TIME! is way to valuable to waste on any thing else! As far as the oven, if a paragon is out of your range for now stay with the kitchen oven and good steel. there is nothing wrong with this if done correctly. For now. if you need more keep asking, that is why we are all here.
 
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