What is the proper heat treatment method for spring steel?

[ancientsteels]

Just spit balling. If you had a old file laying around it might be something to play with. Not the best thing bit at least it's the right shape. If it seems like you have free fuel and lots of time you could pretty much mess around with just about anything. If you get to the point you can forge weld you will have all kinds of options. All that hammering should be great stress relief too.

If it helps I know how trapped feeling growing up without a lot of education and in a rural area can make you feel. Keep in trying let us know how it goes.

I have used files before and you are correct, they work nice. I had to leave off finishing a knife that I am making out of an old file because of dry weather and fire bans in my area. Thanks for the encouragement. I appreciate it. And Blacksmithing is good stress relief.

 

[ancientsteels]

Thanks for the info. Ill give it a try.
I custom made (not pretty but it works) a forge out of an 80 gallon (33 inch long) RV propane tank. Oxy Gas cut the door and the hole for the smoke stack, for which I used 3 16inch long pieces of 6inch stove pipe. made a door for the front of the forge out of the piece of steel I cut out to make the door hole. I pile a 2 inch layer of old charcoal on the bottom, put a pile of kindling on top of that, light a fire, stack any large wood I can find on top of that once I have a good fire going, wait a half hour or so until all is a nice bed of bright coals, put on a little more wood to keep a flame going, and the draft keeps the first 16 inches from the door back at about 1800 degrees, hot enough to get a 1 inch X 14 inch piece of steel to a nice bright orange. Hot enough to work the steel without causing stress fractures or other unwanted blemishes from occurring during hammering. I would post a pic of it but I cant figure out how to upload a picture on here. I have actually made the mistake of burning through a piece of steel by leaving it in the fire too long, and thats with out a bellows.

I Made sure to wash the tank THOROUGHLY before applying any flame to it.

 

[Britt_Askew]

If I was so broke that I didnt have 2 pennys to rub together a telephone wouldnt be on the list of things I need

 

[ancientsteels]

If I was so broke that I didnt have 2 pennys to rub together a telephone wouldnt be on the list of things I need

Unfortunately I depend on my phone for some paper work issues I am dealing with(long boring story), and for email (also vital for paperwork) and in the event of an emergency.
So while you would be right if I wasn't dealing with paperwork, my situation demands a phone for communication purposes.