pre heat treat question about rust

[timos-]

Ive got a large batch of 1/16th thick 1095 and other various oil hardening steel blades profiled out. Most of them have been laying around for a year or more and have gotten some surface rust.

This may be a stupid question but when I googled this I didnt find anything. Is it ok to heat treat these blades as is with the surface rust or do I need to sand down these surfaces? If they were heat treated as is what exactly would happen?


thaNK you,
Tim

 

[Matt Rochester]

I cant say if it would hurt anything but I will say that I prefer my steel to be clean. You will have to sand and clean it up at some point and it will probably be easier pre heat treat.

 

[timos-]

post heat treat I will be full flat grind bevels and taper (slightly) the tangs so really all the surface will be ground away...so would cleaning the light surface rust on 20 or so blades be a waste of time or is it necessary? HMmm LOL I feel like I should know the answer to this.

 

[Maelstrom78]

I wouldn't bother then.

 

[AVigil]

Make up a water and white vinegar solution and let them soak a bit, then take a wire brush to clean them off.

You could grind them as it but it will be a mess if there is enough rust.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I would just knock the rust off with steel wool or sandpaper and do the HT. No need to get crazy, just take off the loose stuff.

 

[Busto]

I have used a wire wheel cup brush on angle grinder to knock the loose stuff off....easy peasy.

 

[Atlas Knife Company]

I've been doing this a lot lately. Soak in 6:1 water/vinegar overnight and in the morning you can wipe off the rust/scale with a 3M scrubber. You'll want to dip it in water with baking soda to neutralize afterward. This will prevent the flash rust. Afterward, wipe with a paper towel to dry it.