Partial heat treat failure(Success! With Pic's)

E.Carlson

E.Carlson

Joined
Mar 28, 2016
Messages
811
So I just finished heat treating a nesmuk that I have been working on and it seems I have an issue. It's a 3/16 piece of steel and I had a really hard time getting it to temp around the plunge without over heating the tip. I guess I'm starting to see the limitations of my equipment. Anyways, I thought everything was where it needed to be and after the quench it appears that the last 1/4 inch of the blade next to the plunge didn't harden. A file skates off the whole edge but catches at the last bit.
So I guess my question is what now? Should I attempt to quench again or go ahead and sharpen it and see what happens. The knife is for me so I'm up for exploring options. Maybe add a choil?
 
Last edited:
I take it that you are HTing in a forge. Preheat the handle and ricasso first, then flip it around and heat the blade. Keep it moving in an out of the forge. The handle/ricasso area of a knife is usually the thickest part... which also makes it the biggest heat sink. Heating that area first fixes the problem and having the knife turned around removes the danger of overheating the thin tip.
 
Last edited:
Wow. Sometimes it's that simple huh. Yeah its a 2 brick forge. Never had an issue with 1/8 stock but this is my first "hand axe" as I believe you recently called them.
Would you attempt the quench again on this knife? It has not been tempered yet. Or is this one a lost cause.
 
Just re-do the HT. It will be OK. Actually, the grain may end up even finer on a second quench.
 
I leave extra material at the tip to give it more mass, and often grind the heel on the thinner end of the scale so it heats easier. I even out the edge thickness post heat treat grinding.
 
I did Ricks heat the rear first method and everything came out great. It's tempering now. I may try leaving a bit more meat on the tip once I get more confident with my grinding skills.
 
All done. Thanks guys! Lots of firsts here. First bevels ground on my 2x72, first time trying corby bolts, first micarta handle and my first thick (3/16) stock.
ce5678f9999229f1dc6d0b46e53ca44f.jpg
40f3e6ec2a2a734c3b87c4e58e8785ca.jpg
b6a963dba38f84defb715b8cb67536c7.jpg
 
You did a good job. Fine looking knife
 
Thanks for the tips and kind words guys.
If you couldn't tell, I got my light box yesterday. It really helps with knife photography!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top