one more question

[hurley0816]

i might have to become a member to get the search function so i stop bothering you guys! can i use a torch to get the cutting edge hot and then quench. what im thinking is it will harden the edge and thats all that is really needed right? thanks again

 

[AcridSaint]

You can search bladeforums with google: "site:bladeforums.com search string"

I would not heat treat in that manor, but some might.

 

[silver_pilate]

There's a nice collection of stickies at the top of this forum including one that has great information for those interested in beginning information.

As for heat treating, it ENTIRELY depends on the steel you are heat treating. Many wrongly assume that all there is to hardening steel is heating to non-magnetic and dunking it in something. That may actually work for a steel like 1084 and a few other alloys with a fast enough quenching oil, but for many other steels it will be inadequate. A torch can be used to heat treat, and there have been some amazing knives made with that method of heat treating, but those makers know what they are doing and why and also how they need to approach different steels.

So the sum to your heat treating question is that it depends on what you're heat treating. Each steel has a specific protocol for hardening.

--nathan