Watch your temper!

S

SaltyBadger

Joined
Mar 28, 2019
Messages
2
i am new to knife making and have just tempered my first blade. After tempering the 1095 steel for 2 hours at 400°F i took it out the oven and noticed it was straw colored from the tip to about mid blade then there was a purplish color patch then straw color again then another smaller patch. I just hope this isn’t bad for my blade as I have worked really hard on it and want it to come out good. I’m not sure what to do at this point. Can anyone help or give me advise on what to do?!
 
it should be fine. in the future do two 1 hour cycles and cool the blade in water between the cycles.
 
What are you using as a tempering oven? Is it PID controlled? My preference is a PID controlled convection toaster oven, I can control the temperature exactly and the convection prevents hot/cold spots.
 
The Count has a good point.
Also, was your blade exposed directly to the elements? Carbon steels equalize pretty fast, but stainless might heat up in a more localized fashion when the elements come on. You can shield from direct thermal radiation with some foil loosely covering the blade, and/or place the blade on a larger thermal mass.
 
mooniesdl3 said:
What are you using as a tempering oven? Is it PID controlled? My preference is a PID controlled convection toaster oven, I can control the temperature exactly and the convection prevents hot/cold spots.
Click to expand...
Tempering blade in oven without FAN is not tempering if you ask me . . .. .
 
Welcome SaltyBadger.
Fill put your profile so we know where you live and a bit about you.


Fill out Ignore Natlek's comments.

Tempering ovens without a fan are fine. Steel in a tempering oven can get all sorts of colors which do not necessarily relate to temperature.

You are fine with your tempering.

You should do a second temper at 400F for an hour. Two tempers are required to fully temper a blade. If you can't do it on this blade it isn't a problem in 1095.
 
DanF said:
LOL, now that right there was funny!
Click to expand...
What is so funny , my friend ? I have oven too , and guess what ? I borrowed the most expensive and extremely accurate temperature measuring tools , two of them , both cost over $ 15,000 ! And put four blade inside , all in different height inside oven .And then read temperature ON all blade .....without fan/convection ON , inside is circus with temperature range ! You can put inside whole Deere tractor and you will still have uneven temperature ! There was a BIG reason why real one oven have fan !
 
SaltyBadger - sorry for the derail about this. Just follow the standard procedures.



From The Moderator - Let it go Natlek. The number of hobby use tempering ovens with fans is probably close to zero. Tens of thousands use non- circulating ovens with perfectly good results. To say that if you don't use your type oven you aren't doing tempering is just plain wrong. If you want to discuss this farther, please PM or email me. This thread does not need to be sidetracked.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top