In need of heat treatment options

G

G-Klein

Joined
Jan 15, 2014
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As a new knife maker, my biggest problem has been how to heat treat my knives. I want a kiln, but they seem too expensive. However, they seem to be required to heat treat certain steels. I have been using 52100, and simply getting is glowing, testing with a magnet, and then dunking in oil. However, O1 steel seems simpler, but still able to make a nice knife. Am I wrong? Is there any cheap, but effective solution to heat treat knives? I've heard of sending it to heat treating companies, but since i would only be sending 1 or 2 knives, it seems it would be expensive, although I wouldn't be sure, considering there aren't any heat treating companies around me that I am aware of. Also, i just like to do as much as I can by myself. Any advice, machinery, or techniques would be greatly appreciated, because I'm sure there is plenty I don't know, but I'm willing to learn :).
 
I built my own forge and by the time I got everything for heat treat it was at least $200 and I am not sure how much I will use it. I recommend sending them out because then you know the exact RC and know that they are professionally done and you can experiment heat treating steels on the side, but being professionally done for knives you plan on selling to customers is a great choice. Check in the services provided as there is at least one gentlemen in Louisiana that does heat treat for smaller batches. $10 a blade plus shipping. So that is not bad if you have less than 6-8 knives. For your first batches of knives send some small ones to him and as you progress then make a bunch of blade blanks and send them to Peters for a bulk discount rate. This is what I am going through right now as well. That is my 2 cents.
 
I too would have loved to heat treat my own steels but cost is an issue for me too. Unless you are a full time maker I do not think the economics work out for small quantities.
I send mine out for HT to a heat treatment specialist company near my area who has always treated my D2 to within 0.5HRC
 
Thanks for the help! I am a student, which gives me a lot of time to focus on my knives. However, there aren't many, if any, people my age that would be willing to pay for a handmade knife. So I don't make a lot because I'm generally not making them for anybody, so no reason to try to crank them out at a faster pace.
 
I am in the same position, student and make knives and customize them as a hobby. I liked the experience of building my own forge for heat treat purposes but there is not much consistency in it. I do not have a lot of cash because I seem to always be spending it and have a limited part time job due to my schedule so I would recommend not even worrying about your own in house heat treat, it would be safe to send it to someone. If you have a oil hardening steel then this is the latest post I found and will most likely use for small batches other wise when I get a lot more steel I will ship it to Peters or something like that.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1142018-Heat-Treating-for-Oil-Hardening-Steels
 
Wow! Thank you so much for all your help! I've considered making my own forge, and I hope I do someday, but right now it doesn't seem very practical. It's a bummer how difficult heat treating can be, which is one of the main reasons I just switched to O1! After watching Aaron Gough, it seemed to be much simpler to heat treat! Alas, I've learned it's never that simple =(... ...but if it was easy, it wouldn't be a very interesting hobby/profession, I suppose =P. Thank you for everything! I wish you nothing but prosperity!
 
G-Klein said:
Wow! Thank you so much for all your help! I've considered making my own forge, and I hope I do someday, but right now it doesn't seem very practical. It's a bummer how difficult heat treating can be, which is one of the main reasons I just switched to O1! After watching Aaron Gough, it seemed to be much simpler to heat treat! Alas, I've learned it's never that simple =(... ...but if it was easy, it wouldn't be a very interesting hobby/profession, I suppose =P. Thank you for everything! I wish you nothing but prosperity!
Click to expand...

If all you want to do is HT, then don't make a forge, make an oven. Plans are available for kanthal element heated PID controlled brick ovens that can be done fairly economically. HT can be done with a forge, but an oven is ideal. If you want to be able to do more with steel than just grind it to shape, build a forge... If you aren't selling your knives, and are just playing with steel, I for one encourage you to learn to manipulate the steel beyond grinding it to shape. There is just something to your first successful forge weld, or hammering a piece of round bar into a recognizable shape. A paint can forge can do a respectable amount of work in the right hands and is cheap and easy to make. And it is a great stress reliever...
 
Before you build either a forge or an oven.....fill out your profile.

You say that there isn't a HT source near you. Are you in Adak, AL? Have the dog sleds stopped running for the winter?

By filling out your profile, people will know where you are as well as a bit about you ( like your age and that you are a student). There may be several HT shops in your area, the local college may have a kiln, and there could be half a dozen makers who would have you over to HT your knife.

Just as a side comment, I know very few students who don't waste more than the price of a quality HT on things nearly every week.
 
In your state there are dozens of good knifemakers. In new England, right above you, there are a hundred more. Peter's HT is in PA, and is only a mail box away. I would venture to guess that in the NYC metro and NJ surrounding area, there are hundreds of shops the do HT. Here is the list for just one search on Long Island:
http://www.yellowpages.com/long-island-ny/metal-heat-treating

BTW, the East Coast Custom knife show is in Jersey City the end of February. You and your dad/mom/uncle/etc should go. You can met a lot of folks at a knife show. be polite and listen a lot.
 
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