Outsourcing heat treat

S

samuel082799

Joined
Jul 29, 2015
Messages
20
I know that most people use Peters heat treat for outsourcing their knives for heat treat because they specialize in heat treating knives. I live in California and i don't really want to ship my knives across the country. So my question is, is their any knife heat treaters closer to California than peters heat treat. Also their is a place called pacific heat treat in California but i am not sure if they do knives.
 
I would send them to wherever you feel they're going to do the best job. The Heat treatment is forever and you're only talking a few extra days to wait if you send them to Peter's.
 
Shipping to Peters Heat Treating from Seattle via flat rate Priority Mail is two days.

We used Pacific Heat Treating in the past but prefer using Peters.

Chuck
 
Stack Metallurgical up in Portland does a lot of production blades. They may do small volumes but you would have to ask them. They are a good heat treater. Personally, I would agree with everyone else here that Peter's is the way to go for the general knife guys.
 
I use TruGrit and they do a great job.'

If you are close to Ontario you can drop them off and pick up supplies
 
I also recommend Peters' Heat Treatment Inc. but their minimum charge doesn't make it practical to harden only a couple of blades.

When I have a batch of blades of about 6 or more pieces, I find it highly justifiable to send them to Peters'. If I have a smaller batch then I send them to Trugrit without any hesitation. TruGrit has provided stellar service and a report of finished hardness on my jobs . . . just like Peters'.

In the end, you'd do a lot better to mail your blades to one of the above mentioned service providers rather than trying to develop a working relationship with a local heat treat facility who may not be intimately familiar with hardening/straightening blades with thin edges . . .

It sounds like you are just starting into knife making and probably have a low quantity of blades that you will want treated on a yearly basis. If I am incorrect on these assumptions, then I still think that Peters' or TruGrit should be your primary source for heat treat services,

Good luck,
 
I have not started making knives yet, i am trying to get the answers before i start making them. I am planning on making batches of 10 to 20 knives so that i can sell them.
 
I just started using the Paul Bos heat treating service in Idaho and am very pleased. Is anyone else using them? Larry Lehman
 
samuel082799 said:
I have not started making knives yet, i am trying to get the answers before i start making them. I am planning on making batches of 10 to 20 knives so that i can sell them.
Click to expand...

Good for you for having plans.

Start slow, you will make many knives before thinking you can sell them. Make them one at a time for the first twenty or more, and then work on batches. You won't save any money on batch HT if you are HTing twenty identically poor knives.
 
I've been using Bearclaw in Texas for several years with good results. They were recommended by Texas Knifemaker's supply. Look at their web site, the owner is a knifemaker and also teaches, I believe forge work. As a newby I often had sometimes dumb questions but he offered suggestions and answered.
 
I live in Canada and still use Peters half the time when I get a batch of 10 or more, Here's my thought process... it's certainly not cheaper, especially with our garbage dollar right now, but when you are selling knives, people want to know where they were heat treated, and when you say "peters" anyone in the know.. knows, end of story! they know and respect the name.
 
I use Bos in Post Falls, Id. It's a 15 minute drive from my house. It takes them about a week if you drop them off not sure if you send them in the mail.

And yes they will heat treat carbon blades. I think it's 12" or less on the carbon blades though.

Paul Farner (not Bos) is the guy who runs it now and he was taught by Bos before he retired. He's a great guy to deal with.

Nick
 
It takes me about 2 weeks by mail which I think is good. Paul is a nice guy who really tries to please. Check him out online for rates and specifics. Larry Lehman
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top