tempering in the fire

[22wmr]

how can I temper a knife in the fire. would a cutting tourch work to temper a knife?

 

[Robert_Phelps]

You don't know of any oven at all you could use? It's so much simpler that way.

Some toaster ovens go up to 450 degrees, or so. Try to pick one up on the cheap at a yardsale or a goodwill, or something like that.

 

[Bruce Bump]

Yes you can do it that way. Before electricity the smith would grind the scale off so any color changes can easily be seen. Simply heat very slowly and evenly the spine of the blade and watch the color move to the edge. When the edge is light straw colored quickly quench the whole blade in water. Bill Moran actually taught this method when he was a youngster.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Yes you can temper with a torch .It is called drawing the temper. You slowly heat the spine and watch the temper colors run down the blade. You must stop it by cooling in a tub of water (don't worry, it is not the same as quenching) when the color is almost where you want it.It will travel a bit farther before you can get it in the water.
Usually you do a full temper before drawing the spine to a softer temper. Just stick the knife in the kitchen oven (or a toaster oven) at 350-375-400-whatever you are shooting for, and bake for 1 hour. Cool it off and do it again. Now you have an evenly tempered blade. If you want the spine more flexible, draw the temper with a torch while rocking the blade edge in a cookie sheet with 1/8" of water in it.
Stacy

 

[rhrocker]

I read somewhere that Mr. Scagel would build a fire in his forge, then put a curced piece of metal over the coals, with the convex side up. He'd then place the spine of the knife on the metal, and watch for the straw color to start up the side of the blade.