tempering

[alex_111]

howdy, folks.
this is my first post in the shop talk forum.

alright: i made a knife using a file for a blank, about a year ago. didn't temper it, just went ahead & ground it out, then epoxied handles on because i couldn't drill tool steel. now, i'm about to attempt another file-blade, and was wondering if there's any way i can heat it hot enough using household implements (oven, toaster-oven, etc.). a friend of mine heated a blank red-hot using an electric stove, then let it air-cool to become soft for grinding/drilling. then he heated it again & quenched it so it cooled faster & became harder. i've tried this with my stove, but it's a glass-top range so it doesn't heat properly.
any tips?
thanks, guys.
aleX.

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"i flip you... i flip you for real..."

 

[alex_111]

bttt.

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"i flip you... i flip you for real..."

 

[Kumdo]

Hey Alex. I'm no knife maker, so I don't know if you'd be able to heat treat a blade in a toaster oven, but you might want to check out this link, if you haven't already: http://www.knifeforums.com/ubb/Forum2/HTML/000032.html

Near the end he shows how to do it with a small fire pit.

BTW, great tag line! That scene cracks me up!

 

[Michael Bennett]

Here's probably the best web article for doing what you want to do:

http://primitivearcher.com/pages/articles/drawknif.html

Mike

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[Possum]

Howdy There.....!
I have made a few bladde from files and they work great if you get a good quality file to begin with. You may have to use a torch to do the heat treating, to get the file to a high enough temp. You can also use a propane torch to d the annelling and let it air cool. This should soften the file enough to grind and drill without any problems. Good Luck...!
"Possum"

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Thomas Clegg