Heller farrier rasp HT

Csalmon

Csalmon

Joined
Apr 23, 2016
Messages
61
I need instructions for heat treating two heller farrier rasps after I grind them into what I want.

I have never heat treated anything, so the noob explanation would be best. These will be the only things I'm heat treating as well since I'm only doing this for a rodeo friend who helped me plan out an elaborate proposal to my fiancé, and the other knives I'm doing (A2) are sent off until I can afford a kiln.

Remember I know nothing so please don't hold back on the details! Thanks!
 
Files are generally 1095 or W2 if very old. Backyard heat treat for 1095 is what you are looking for or check out Mr. Apelt's exceptionally good thread on W2. With backyard methods, you will probably get results something like a 1085 steel.
 
Any links to this or where I might find it or other good instructional stuff?
 
I too have varied results with heller rasps, I always heat to non magnetic and quench in water put them in a vice and take a pipe wrench or crescent and try to break off a piece, If they break they will work for a blade if they bend they are only case hardened. If they are good for a blade I anneal them by heating to non magnetic and cooling slow as in putting them on a heated piece of steel for a few hours, I then cut out my blank and do the initial grinding. After the initial grinding I do three cycles of normalizing, Heat to 1650 let cool to black, Repeat at 1550 and 1450, Heat back to 1500 and quench in heated canola oil. If you only have a torch you can heat to non magnetic 3 times and let cool to black before hardening in oil. I usually temper once at 400 degrees. If you need additional help you can send a pm and I will help any way I can.
 
My last name is heller. I wonder if someone in my family owns that company. Sorry for off topic
 
I have used Heller rasps, and as Greenberg mentioned some are case hardened. My experience is that they are the newer ones--on the ones that weren't my HT has been relatively simple and successful--I heat to a deep orange--short of Cherry red--and immediately quench in Peanut oil. I would encourage you to take a look at YouTube for Aaron Gough's vid on simple steel heat treating: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bunCG6W6dA
After HT this way, I temper at one hour @ 400 degrees two times, simply letting it cool to room temp in the oven and then flipping it over and starting the second hour--I've had really good results, tested at 60-61 R'c' the rasps make a really good looking knife IMO, and they are one of my best sellers.

Good Luck with yours--Don
 
Thanks guys! Definitely helped me figure out what I'm doing! Can't wait to get this done. I appreciate the feedback!
 
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