Some beginner questions...

[Alain M-D]

Hello all !

I make my first knife, but I need somes informations before continuing... and finishing...

1- I make the bevel on my blade, sand to 120 grits and the edge are about 0.30 inches thick. Is this the good thickness for the heat treating ? Should I go to 220 grits or more before the heat treating ?

2- To harden my O-1 blade, can I heat only the sharp edge and quench only the sharp edge in oil or I must heat all the blade ? I read the other post on this subject but it is not specified...

3- I read on this forum that the tempering must be made immediately after the heat treating. Do I have to remove the scales and sand the blade to finer grits before tempering on oven ?

4- What you suggest me about Rockwell ? (between 54 and 64 ?) What is the best ? I imagine that depend on the use of the knife ?

** Please, excuse my poor english... I dont speak english verry well...

Thanks !

 

[L6steel]

Hello Alain!
30 thousandths is fine for the edge thickness prior to heat treat. You can sand the blade with the 220 grit belt first but it's not necessary. I've found that I usually have to go back to 120 grit after heat treat to clean the blade and take it to finished thickness.
You can harden 01 by just heating the edge but you have to be careful and get the entire edge to non magnetic.
No need to clean the blade before the first tempering cycle. Just get it in the oven as soon as it's cooled enough to handle.
Hardness wise I'd say around 56-57 for a big blade and 59-60 for a small one.
I'm no heat treating pro so if anyone has better advice, please post it.

 

[Will52100]

Alain, what L-6 said, also defenatly remove the scales as you will be putting the knife in a 375-450deg. oven dependind on what hardness you want. Leave in for at least 2 2hour tempers, sharpen and test the edge. Just start out low, and keep raising 25 deg. untill edge quits chiping out.

Most ovens are not very accurate, so a good qaulity thermometer will help.