Newbie questions: Where to heat treat?

[PredHunter]

I am making my first knife and am wondering where I should get it heat treated. I have shaped the knife and filed my bevel.

I have filed the bevel to about as thin as I could get it with the file. Will this cause a problem during the heat treat if I'm sending it out? It is 1095 if that matters.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Rooster99]

I just sent out my first 12 blades for heat treat to Peters Heat Treating Inc. They were very kind and helpful when I talked to them on the phone. That being said there are other reputable companies/people you could use. I've just heard good things about Peters through forums and that's the place I chose.

 

[PredHunter]

Thanks for the reply. I'll check them out.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Filing is only the first step before HT. Before HT you also have to sand the blade to 400 grit. On steels like 1095, I usually suggest filing to an edge about .030-.040", and leaving the edge at .020-.030" when ready for HT.

If the edge gets too thin, just file it back a tad and it will thicken up.

 

[PredHunter]

I have started sanding. S0 should I thicken the edge before sending it out?
Thanks for the response

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

A couple of things need to be said here;
Welcome to Shop Talk.

Filling out your profile is a very good idea. Put in all the info including your age.

When asking a question about a knife project, always give the steel type and knife basic description ( e.g. - drop point hunter in 1084).

OK, now about you question:

The edge should be thin enough at HT to make the post HT sanding come to the desired edge thickness without great difficulty. In grinding on a belt grinder, that isn't much of a big deal. When hand sanding, it will pay well to consider what you want it to be in the earlier stages.

Carbon steel blades need to be thicker at HT than stainless blades. In a very general statement - the edge should be about .005" thick before sharpening. That means it should be about .010 to .020" wider when done sanding before HT. When done filing it should be about .030-.040" wide.

 

[PredHunter]

Thanks for the info. I'll fill out my profile more. Like I mentioned the knife is 1095. It is a drop point outdoor EDC. Here's a pic [/URL
I know it's crude but it is my first.