Need some advice.

H

Helderberg

Joined
Dec 8, 2013
Messages
322
First this may not be the correct place to post this question but I will start here. Sorry if this is a mistake.
I am making a knife, my first, from an old lawnmower blade and I would like to do some kind of heat treating to make the metal harder. I do not have a furnace, torch, but I do have a gas fired grill that will get up to 500* or so. Is that enough to make an difference or would I be just wasteing propane?
Also, if this would have even a mild effect do I then quench in water or will I need oil?
Thanks again and please forgive my complete ignorance but i am trying to start somewhere.
Frank.
 
If a mod can move this to the knife making subforum you should get better responses.
 
Buy some steel like 1080, grind away, send to a heat treater, and then finish the knife once it comes back. I'm sure the results will be better than a lawnmower blade heated in a barbecue pit.
 
See Post #2.....and simple carbon steels need to reach 1450-1500 degrees F before quench so the gas BBQ is not going to get you there. On your steel selection those blades are made for cutting the lawn not for making knives. Purchase a piece of 1084 carbon steel from "Aldo" the NJ Steel Baron very reasonable and forgiving material excellent for starting out. Use canola oil for quenching again reasonable price water will probably shatter your blade.
 
There is great book called "the $50 dollar knife shop". Wayne Goddard wrote it. Is is a great book.

Also check out the makers area. Lots of good info there.

BBQ is not gonna work
 
I did not think the BBQ was a viable option but I had to ask. Oh well, I will guess I am going to have to buy a knife blank in kit form and just make the grips.
Thanks for the feedback and the not too snarky remarks. ;) I guess I had better do some reading before I try this again.
Be safe all, Frank.
 
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