Remove Scale After HT

[Milt]

I have been HT'ing 1095 and 1080 in a gas fired Kiln. I also stamp the ricasso area prior to HT. I am wondering how others remove the scale. (I place the blades directly in the heat without any foil or product applied to the blade.) I have been removing scale on the platten with a 220 grit belt for the flats, then on the wheel for the grinds. Sometimes, the tang stamp starts to get a tad thin. I would like to avoid that. Any suggestions? Are there ways to keep scale to a minimum?

Milt

 

[deker]

If you want to minimize scale, use PBC anti-scale coating from Brownells. If you don't want to do that, try soaking blades in vinegar overnight to remove scale.

Some other things that I've done over the years to combat scale:

- As soon as you come out of the quench, while the blade is still warm, wrap is in a rag to continue cooling. A good bit of the scale falls off.
- When getting ready to quench, heat the blade to just a few hundred degrees and melt Ivory soap onto the workpiece. It will scale a lot less. I can't explain it, I haven't tried it on blades, but it works like a charm on touchmarks and punches and the like.I should resurrect this experiment and try on larger pieces that get a longer soak.....

-d

 

[blgoode]

I go back to 60 grit afetr HT. I then get teh edge to the thickness I want and go up in grits from there. When I went with only 120 grit after HT I was frustrated because I got too much heat trying to remove too much material wit 120 grit.

JUst a thought. Its a pain to try and get all the scratches out but easier for me that going to 120 grit after HT.