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Reputable heat treatment services in Philippines

K

ke6cvh

Joined
Jul 4, 2025
Messages
2
Hello,

I am an American living here in Philippines with family. I can't seem to find a heat treatment service preferably on the main island of Luzon (Manila etc). Does anyone know of any? I want to build some knifes and want to use some types of steels that would be far better off trying to send off for heat treatment than attempting to build and learn a kiln here on my property.

I've read threads where folks talk about profiling and shaping already treated steel without tempering it to reduced hardness and nobody I can find recommends such a thing. Even it takes an incredibly long time if I cannot find a heat treatment service here that is reputable and am actively looking. I'm starting to think it will be my only option to take "forever" doing it without heating it up and grinding it down.

Shipping ground knife blanks here is not going to be a good solution from research. 99 percent of stuff on Amazon will not ship here when it comes to knifes.To sum it up I'd like to try buying some steel, shaping some knifes, then sending them off for heat treatment witout dealing with customs and delays. Yes, there are lots of pre-made knifes around but I'm wanting to make some combat style and v44/western style bowies and in good steel. For example I am a fairly short motorcycle ride from Taal (knife capitol for balisong type) and can get various types of locally produced machette in everything from pointed to utilitarian styles at the local open air markets. Quality bowies....not to be had.

Regards,
Mike
 
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Ah okay, well I did find this very nice article that I'll link. I saw review that the Condor Undertaker is in 1075 and have seen some articles about some steels that are good for home DIY heat treatment but really wanted to do 1095 like the original Western 49 and the Ka-Bar knifes being 1095 crovan was but 1095 is not listed as one of the easier home diy capable steels. I also saw a comment on internet where 1095 can be tricky to heat treat.

The article that impressed me: https://nordicedge.com.au/how-to-he...2Mk8Q26bo_D1W_WVRO3xeJ6ysANPT2uFXBdnlj3Wsx9Zt .

The article link is a bit contradictory as the title says: how-to-heat-treat-1084-1075-or-15n20-carbon-steel (which doesn't include 5160) but in the description it says "
How To Heat Treat Simple Carbon Steels:

** Recipe for 1084, 1075, 15N20 and 5160 ** The short version

I see 1, 2, and 3 burner propane kilns on an online platform in this country called shopee which is almost exclusive of stuff coming out of China but they all look to be quality items and advertised specs include requirement for treating knifes. If I can easily and reliably heat treat 5160. possibly with a purchased 2 burner propane kiln, then this might be my solution rather than relying on a local questionable heat treatment.

During one of my visits to Taal they told me they are using coconut husk charcoal with fan to heat treat the balisong's in Taal when I visited but I did not personally see it. I can visit their factory (by invitation likely only which I got) but I just don't see how they could be reliably treating 1095 or, as they claim ball bearing steel option for more expensive blades/52100, with coconut husk charcoal. Their factory is in operation 3 days a week 4am until 10am then they go back to their homes and knife selling shops etc. Surely due to the heat and other activities the makers (I would call it a guild almost) are involved in outside of actual knife making.

I am friends with a father/son owned machine shop and saw they are sending their gears off to Manila for heat treatment after making large replacement gears. My guess is this is only case hardened to some depth to keep the strength of the gear and likely this place will not be interested in doing knife blanks.

Regards,
Mike

I am editing to add this: I own two trademarks in country one for brand name and other for logo. Brand name is very "blue collar" and for garment production but the name will be fitting as well for other items so I could and will likely put the brand name and logo on the sheath (I own a few heavy hitter leather sewing machines up to the Cowboy 4500 being the heaviest and the Cowboy Outlaw being my human powered one to name some of the machines). Can easily make sheaths. My one studio that has the Cowboy Outlaw "one arm bandit" lever operated leather machine is entirely human powered with most of the industrial machines being mounted on 18 speed bicycle machines that were heavily mod'd from surplus old steel bicycle frames. I like the idea of making a couple bicycle powered machines that could do belt sanding and grinding but this is getting in pretty deep before I make a first knife. I will include a picture of the studio on this reply "no room at the inn" so any additional machines will go to a different onsite locatio. Here is the link with 35 pictures showing the various human powered machines mostly by bicycle. This is a setup primarily to make jeans and work pants but I can sew all sorts of heavy stuff with some of the machines.
bicycle powered mini-factory descriptions
 
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If the shop in Manilla can do case hardening. it can probably do a knife blade. Call or visit them and talk to the HT guy.
 
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