New dog in the game, but afraid to leave the porch...

[Last_Ditch]

I am about to embark on a lifelong dream, and start making knives of my own. I have spent a good bit of time reading from the experts here on ideas and steel choices. I have started putting my garage shop together with some basic machines and tools. However, what has been on my mind from day one is HEAT TREATING!!!

In the embryonic stages of my new adventure, I am curious if it's an accepted practice to put my ideas to metal, and have someone else heat treat them? I want to purchase a kiln and do it eventually, but I don't have it in the budget to spend $1500+ on a kiln right now.

What I am looking for is someone that has the time and ability to heat treat 1095 for me. I am not looking to start a full time production, just a few knives a month. What is the going rate for having someone heat treat 1095?

I am so excited to get my first one done and get some pics out. I will be living in the forums, picking up every bit of info I can. If anyone has some tips or some advice for a future knife maker, please don't hesitate. I will gladly accept any and all you have to share.

 

[Athenas Edge]

Hey Last_Ditch, while having a fancy oven can certainly give you the most accurate heat treat possible it's not necessarily needed on your start up. I personally like to do everything in-house and will do anything to avoid sending my work out to someone else. I do this for the sake of cost & time, and I like to say I did everything. I bought a really nice propane forge for about $500 and heat treat everything myself.

It's a low-cost option in terms of heat treating, and it serves multiples purposes. Now you have a forge to make Damascus steel down the line when you get comfortable trying something like that. The heat treat won't be as precise as say a nice kiln, but the heat treats will hold up just fine for any blade given you did them correctly. Maybe someone else will have some advice for you, but I wish you the best of luck!