I have been looking for information on making pocket clips for various applications (flashlights, pens, knives). One question I have is, if you take spring steel and heat it up to a glowing orange hot for easy bending, will the spring like characteristics vanish once it is cooled back down? I am interested in taking long pocket clips and working them into a "deep-carry" style for some knives.
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Making your own pocket clips?
- Thread starter jk904jk
- Start date
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2006
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- 1,347
Heating up spring steel will change the properties of the metal. You can use a 400 series stainless then have it heat treated. I have used a 302 series stainless about .042 thickness (cannot be heat treated) and it worked out well for me. For additional info check out this site. Good luck.
http://www.finishing.com/339/52.shtml
http://www.finishing.com/339/52.shtml
Bill DeShivs
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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- Jun 6, 2000
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- 12,640
Spring steel will have no spring properties after the treatment you describe. Here is the way to heat treat it:
Heat it, bend it, heat it read again and quench. The steel should be "file hard"-a file should slide off, rather than cut it. If the steel is not fully hardened, it MUST be reheated and quenched. Test it again. Once it is uniformly hardened, clean to bright steel, and gently and evenly heat to just past blue. Let it air cool.
Heat it, bend it, heat it read again and quench. The steel should be "file hard"-a file should slide off, rather than cut it. If the steel is not fully hardened, it MUST be reheated and quenched. Test it again. Once it is uniformly hardened, clean to bright steel, and gently and evenly heat to just past blue. Let it air cool.