quenching my first 'big' knife

ScottRoush

ScottRoush

Joined
Jan 10, 2010
Messages
1,818
howdy...

i'm preparing to quench a 14" chopper made from a Nicholson farrier's file. I plan to clay coat with apg#36 and quench in light formula from Hirosoulas's (sp?) book.... thinned out transmission/motor oil mixture.

I've forged 90% to shape, including bevels and have ground to 800 leaving a little less than 1/8" on the edge.

My question.... This is my first big knife and I'm assuming I will have some warpage and plan to correct during the quench.... but what is the best way to correct for the bending from edge to spine that may occur?

Any other tips for handling warpage and bending?? Any tips for minimizing?

thanks a bunch...
 
Normalization cycles, a bit thicker edge, good symmetry, interrupted quench, pre-heated oil, checking the warps and bends before cooling to room temp and correcting them if any with leather gloves. That's all I know what will help to prevent from bends and warps after quench...
Emre
 
I did my first big knife about a week ago at about 14". I had done a 12" or so knife but it was so thick that it probably wouldn't have warped no matter what I'd done. but the 14 incher actually didn't warp at all even though it was only 3/16ths thick (pic is in my profile). I just took the advice of others here and normalized it 3 times, used good oil and heated the oil a bit first.

I wasn't using clay so I don't know if that's going to create more problems for you or not (I guess just make sure the clay lines are a similar width on both sides?). Also I have heard that on longer knives, particularly swords, that moving around the blade too much in the quenchant can cause warpage from the force being applied to the side of the blade when its still soft, I'm sure someone else here can confirm or deny this one though.
 
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