Stainless Foil packet- What went wrong?

razormaker

razormaker

Joined
Mar 6, 2015
Messages
99
I recently tried the stainless foil to heat treat 440c for the first time. As I understood the method from reading several posts on here, I thought I did it right.

I folded over the edges and made a packet leaving room inside for the blade. I crimped the edges with a hammer. I put in a small piece of wood.

Result- black. Maybe black doesn't adequately describe it but add any *#(@&%@ adjective you want. It was black.

I did only make one fold over, maybe that was the reason.

I understood the result was supposed to be slight discoloring but mostly clear.

Any enlightenment for a failed experiment?

Thanks
 
You need to fold over twice. Also, be careful for creating pin holes, especially with a piece of wood. I think a piece of wood is overkill. I just put a small piece of paper in there to burn up the oxygen.
 
Wood?
I get the cleanest blades using nothing to "consume the oxygen."
Having tried several approaches, it surprised me that the blades tightly wrapped in a single layer, rolled seams, no additives, came out a beautiful grey and finished just right.
Crimping with a hammer may damage the crimp, hard to say...
 
To be honest, anything added besides the blade is unnecessary. If you feel you absolutely have to do something, spray the blade with a light coat of WD-40.

Fold the packet with double folds and tap tight with a rubber mallet. Too much hammering or hard sharp objects can make pin holes.
 
elementfe said:
Wood?
I get the cleanest blades using nothing to "consume the oxygen."
Having tried several approaches, it surprised me that the blades tightly wrapped in a single layer, rolled seams, no additives, came out a beautiful grey and finished just right.
Crimping with a hammer may damage the crimp, hard to say...
Click to expand...


This.


Roll the folds with a roller, or even a big socket, to seal. Fold, roll, fold, roll. Nothing except the knife in the packet, unless you're doing very high temp stuff (1950 or above), then add a sprinkle of talcum powder to prevent the foil from welding to the blade.
 
Just sounds like you covered the blade with soot.
There is so little oxygen in the pack to consume, just the tiniest bit of anything to burn will work.
The WD40 Stacy mentions will burn quickly and work.
Just a tiny piece of brown paper grocery bag will work.
You may have got SO MUCH combustion that the expanding gasses pushed open the foil pack.
 
Wow!!! Who would have thought a piece of foil could be so simple and yet so complicated.

Thanks to all for your quick replies. I'll give it another try.
 
Just a comment on foil packets;
The foil is actually thin sheets of stainless steel. It is very sharp on the edges right off the roll. Once through HT, the foil is hardened stainless steel...and is really sharp. It is VREY easy to cut yourself severely with foil. Wear gloves EVERY time you handle it.
 
For SURE!!!! I won't handle the stuff without leather gloves.
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
Just a comment on foil packets;
The foil is actually thin sheets of stainless steel. It is very sharp on the edges right off the roll. Once through HT, the foil is hardened stainless steel...and is really sharp. It is VREY easy to cut yourself severely with foil. Wear gloves EVERY time you handle it.
Click to expand...
 
You aren't the first person to learn that lesson the hard way!!!!! That, along with the fact that 36 gtit belts want to maim new knife makers and that a knife edge take down to final thickness, but not yet sharpened can still cut you are things that a lot of us have had to learn ;)
Matt R said:
I wont handle without gloves.....AGAIN!!! Almost cut the tip of my pinky finger off unrolling it.
Click to expand...
 
And I thought I was the only guy whose hands looked like he lost a fight with a cheese grater every day.
 
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