Heating Axe Head to ###F Degrees Okay?

[Blunt Forged Edge]

Greetings!

I was wondering what ya'll think regarding heating an axe head in an oven to about 250°F to 350°F in order to soften epoxy for ease of removal of the remaing wood in the eye of the axe. Does doing so ruin the temper?

Here it is Note B at bottom of page.

 

[RMJ Tactical]

Not a problem.
RMJ

 

[Blunt Forged Edge]

Not a problem.
RMJ

Good to know and thank you very much!

 

[rwn2000]

Just let the oven do it's pre-heat and stabilize the oven temperature before putting the axe in it. parts of the oven can reach temps that are much hotter than the temp setting during the heating cycle when the heating element is going 100%. I temper my knives at 425 in a conventional oven but preheat it ahead of time and let it equalize. It probably wouldn't hurt an axe head with its extra mass but better safe than sorry.

randy

 

[Square_peg]

Axes are typically tempered at around 500° F. To be safe I'd keep it under 450°.

 

[Bridger]

Why not put it in a pot of boiling water? You know that can't get higher than 212. Would that be hot enough to soften the epoxy? The oven would work, but if you don't "need" to risk it...

 

[Bo T]

Why not put it in a pot of boiling water? You know that can't get higher than 212. Would that be hot enough to soften the epoxy? The oven would work, but if you don't "need" to risk it...

Wouldn't the water cause the wood to swell? I think the oven will work. You could put a pan filled with sand in the oven, then preheat the oven before burying the ax head in the sand. That would minimize any fluctuations of temperature. Do you know the type of epoxy? You might make some noxious fumes by heating. Best to have your room well ventilated.

 

[Operator1975]

Just drill the epoxy head out - no need to mess around with the oven - plus the chemicals that are in that epoxy are some serious bad news - now you have that crap in your house and oven no less - not worth it.