Heat treating with a torch?

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I will do that, thank u Keith. I have some silver solder just need to get around to heat treating the blade before I can solder it on. I used the teflon because I needed something to space the scales apart more and the teflon has a nice contrast. It's kindof weak though, I may slide the tang into a flattened piece of metal tubing, don't know yet. Thank's for the encouragment, it has taken me way too long on this knife though. i want to get it finished and move on to making the sheath. I have a good piece of leather and a lot of stamps.
 
Here is something I did to make the tang larger, cut a piece of brass cut out to fit completely around your short tang, then solder it around your tang. I did it to make a set of thin scales work. It would beef up your short tang and take the place of the teflon. I don't know that the teflon will secure well.
 
Well, if you know someone in your area that has a knife shop maybe you can go and see how it is done. And read all the books on knife making. Most of the makers on here can help you as well. Please be safe, its number #1. -----:)
 
I agree that you should build a forge, and that heating with a torch is just not likely to get you what you want. However, I also know the feeling of wanting to "get it done!" So, hear is another quicky alternative for what its worth. I used this for the first year or two and it worked well.
Get a "weed burner torch" . Its a wand about 3 feet long with a knob to adjust gas flow, and a lever to squeeze which introduces air and it makes a BIG flame 8-10 inches by about 3-4 feet. You just hook it up to a 20 lb propane tank. You can get it from harbor freight for about 20.00 or maybe twice that at a hardware store.
Get some fire bricks (hard or soft, hard may be easier to come by locally), build yourself a little cave with one end open, make some wire blade props to keep your blade resting on its back (coat hanger works great for this). Stick it in there, stand back and blast away with the torch. You'll have no problems getting full coverage, or getting it up to critical temp.
Its crude, but cheap, effective, and they are generally available locally and take no time or assembly.
Having said this, I also agree whith what everybody else says about reading books, tutorials etc. Good luck!

Oh and for God's sake DON'T USE THIS THING INDOORS!!!!
 
This post is more than 10 years old but I will add my 2 cents anyway. I just tried heating my first knife blade using a butane torch and a DIY brick furnace. After 10 mins or so of torching the blade, I was not able to heat it to a temperature high enough, not to mention retaining heat on the whole blade. At best my 440A steel got orange on the edge but not enough to demagnitise and definitly not yellow. Anyhow it's a failure and the lesson is learnt. That what first knives are for right.
 
rakanashu - Welcome to shop talk.
You already know this is a very old thread. Posting on them is frowned upon. Start a new thread if there is a question or other reason you need to post.

Also, you can't HT 440C in a forge. It requires a different type of HT done in a programmable kiln at much higher temps.

The stickys has a lot of info that is really useful to new makers ( and old ones).

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