- Joined
- Nov 24, 1999
- Messages
- 4,981
I bought a bar of O1 and all the other stuff I need to make a folder, and its my goal to make a useable liner lock by the end of this week (spring break). I've messed around with patterns and made a few test ones from junk stuff, and I think I've got it all together now.
Trouble is I have to learn to heat treat at the same time
I'll have to do it with a propane torch. I can make up a mini forge pretty easily if I need to do that to get it up to temp. Then for quenching I'm pretty much limited to water, or used motor oil (probably 10W30), unless theres something better I can buy cheap and find easily. What would be best?
For tempering, I'm not sure what to do. I could probably use the oven, but I'd like to avoid that. If I quench the edge ( lower half of the blade in this case, to include the locking face on the tang) and then let the heat from the spine creep back to the edge, until its a straw color, and quench it again would that work good enough?
For now, these are just small 2"-3" folder blades so it won't matter if they're a little hard and not extremely tough.
Thanks for any help.
Trouble is I have to learn to heat treat at the same time

I'll have to do it with a propane torch. I can make up a mini forge pretty easily if I need to do that to get it up to temp. Then for quenching I'm pretty much limited to water, or used motor oil (probably 10W30), unless theres something better I can buy cheap and find easily. What would be best?
For tempering, I'm not sure what to do. I could probably use the oven, but I'd like to avoid that. If I quench the edge ( lower half of the blade in this case, to include the locking face on the tang) and then let the heat from the spine creep back to the edge, until its a straw color, and quench it again would that work good enough?
For now, these are just small 2"-3" folder blades so it won't matter if they're a little hard and not extremely tough.
Thanks for any help.