Heat treating

[Jwgriesser]

I have a klin. I am heat treating ABE-L. Is there a way I can prevent the blade handle from getting heat treated? I want to harden the blade not the handle.

Thanks Jay

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

No. The whole blade will harden. Drill the tang holes before HT, or use carbide drill bits post-HT. On simple carbon steels, you can draw the tang soft with a torch, but on stainless steels it won't work as easily.

 

[AVigil]

When heat treating stainless steels the entire blade gets treated.