Whoops!

R

Ram3541

Joined
Nov 5, 2004
Messages
10
I can not believe that I have done this much less post it here for you guys to see but I need some (experience) advise. I am on my third knife. It is a small utility/skinner type double ground. It is made of O1, diff. heat treated, and tempered..... :eek: whoops :eek: ...I forgot to temper it. I have been in and out of the shop all day today and I heat treated it and forgot to temper it. Stop laughing :p ...I mean it :p .....Stop. I went on and hand sanded and got to about 400 grit when I realized what I had done. It is in the oven right now. Have I messed this heat treat up or will it really matter? I still can not believe that I did not temper this knife. I have learned so much from all you guys and any help would be great.
James
 
So how many hours passed from the time it was hardened till you put it in the oven? I 'think' the main thing that would have been done, is to make a harder blade then you were wanting. Which if its going to be a skinner/slicing knife isnt a terrible thing...you just might get chips if you abuse it. But I think that also depends on how much time elapsed and Im sure someone with more knowledge will be by to chime in.
 
O1 is pretty forgiving. It'll probably be fine if you took care to normalize before HT.
 
Hardened steel should be tempered immediately otherwise you risk breaking the blade as quenching stresses are very high. You were lucky this time .
 
Thanks guys for all the advise.....if anyone else can shed some light on this let me know. I guess it is a pretty unusual circumstance. I think it was about 4 hours between HT and temper. In between I took it to about 400 grit by hand. I can not believe I did that ......oh well , newbie mistake. Many blades to make in the future.
james
 
The damage would have been obvious.Since it is still in one piece,you are fine.In the future,warm up the oven while you are heating up the HT oven/forge/torch/etc.After the quench,take a look at the blade.If it is OK,wipe it off,give it a scrub or two with a scotch bright pad,and put immediately in the oven to temper.
Stacy
 
you should have no problems with the O1 I've had them set for days..full quenched..and at times I re-grind them to get the scale off,,way before the temper/drawing
just don't drop it on the floor..

SS on the other hand :eek:
temper soon.. :)
 
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