Position of blade in forge for heat treating

C

CShepherd

Joined
Feb 27, 2006
Messages
1,085
I've built a small forge with Darren Ellis's help and have heat treated 4 blades so far. Everything seems to be working quite well.

Do have a question though, how do you position your blades in the forge, on their side, edge up or edge down? I've had one blade warp just so slightly (nothing I can't work around) but was wondering if laying the knife on it's side on a fire brick in the forge could have contributed to the warp.

Thanks for all of your help.

Charles
 
Laying it on it's side on a fire brick is inviting a warp. I place the blade edge down in a little ceramic rack. Back the forge way down to avoid overheating the edges and tip. When doing HT,the forge only needs to get the blade to 1500F, not to welding heat.
Stacy
 
Thank you. That was my suspicion. Any advice on where to get a similar rack?

Thanks,

Charles
 
make one from a piece of soft fire brick, or purchase a set from the knife suppliers (TKS, Jantz, K&G, etc.)
Stacy
 
When heat treating a blade in a forge I never placed the blade in it and left it. Using a pair of tongs, open up your forge if it has doors on both ends and move the blade in and out passing all the way through, back and forth, if no doors on the back side, then just go in and out of the forge moving the blade constantly. This will help keep the blade from hot spots in the forge, placing a steel pipe in the forge is also better, this will protect the blade from hot spots even more. Constantly using a magnet you will get very consistant at bringing the blade up to non magnetic evenly with a little practise. But keep the blade moving. Another tip, heat the tang/ricasso areas up first using a torch, either actelene or propane, for this area will take the longest to heat up, by heating it up using a torch first, it will help the entire blade come up to heat more evenly.

Hope this helps a little,

Bill
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top