Spring Tempering O-1

[Chuck Gedraitis Knives]

I am making an automatic and I would like to know if I can just heat the spring to a light blue and quench in oil or if I have to bake it in my oven for ?How long ? And then quench it to get it to spring?
Thanks
Chuck


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A Knife is no more than an Iron Tooth

 

[Bruce Evans]

Heat it to non-magnetic then quench in oil,then you have to draw it back to a dark blue almost black color to get it spring temper.
I still use the old gunsmith way of tempering a backsprig which is to put the piece in a small pan or can and cover about a 1/4 inch above the piece with oil and then light the oil on fire and when the oil is all burned away the piece is at spring temper,just remember to harden it first.
Hope this helps,Bruce

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Bruce Evans Handcrafted Knives
The soul of the Knife begins in the Fire!!!!!
Member of,AKTI#A000223 and The American Bladesmith Society

[This message has been edited by beknives (edited 10-05-2000).]