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Will hair dryer affect heat treatment
- Thread starter goflwls
- Start date
strategy9
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- Apr 27, 2015
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Even with an 800° heat gun, considering the dissipation of heat, you'd really have to go a bit overboard with it, at point blank range, in order to really affect the temper of Steel with it... A quick back and forth blow over from 12" away wouldn't do any damage.
*added - yes the heat gun may reach 800°, which is hot enough to screw up steel tempers, but, the Steel doesn't instantly warp at a temperature. You would have to actually hold it at a specific temperature (usually somewhere above 450°-550°) for a given length of time in order for the composition of the Steel to start changing... Blow very hot air over it to dry it off, or whatever, even with an 800° heat gun at full temp., from 12" away, the heat in the air already dissapated somewhat, and while the steel might reach a temperature hot enough to mess up the temperature, it's more then likely not holding that temperature no where near long enough to actually do any damage... Unless you're blasting the heat at one spot and holding it there for a length if time, chances of someone messing up the temper of their Steel with a back and forth blowing of hot air, (remember that it's cooling again as soon as you remove the heat from a specific area), is very slim, unless your completely negligent and careless.
*added - yes the heat gun may reach 800°, which is hot enough to screw up steel tempers, but, the Steel doesn't instantly warp at a temperature. You would have to actually hold it at a specific temperature (usually somewhere above 450°-550°) for a given length of time in order for the composition of the Steel to start changing... Blow very hot air over it to dry it off, or whatever, even with an 800° heat gun at full temp., from 12" away, the heat in the air already dissapated somewhat, and while the steel might reach a temperature hot enough to mess up the temperature, it's more then likely not holding that temperature no where near long enough to actually do any damage... Unless you're blasting the heat at one spot and holding it there for a length if time, chances of someone messing up the temper of their Steel with a back and forth blowing of hot air, (remember that it's cooling again as soon as you remove the heat from a specific area), is very slim, unless your completely negligent and careless.
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CPM (Crucible Particle Metallurgy) S30V is one of the few stainless steels developed specifically as stock for making knives. And it's main difficulty in working with it is the multi-stage high temperature approach it takes to effect anything about it significantly property wise. Being hot to the touch shouldn't give you cause for concern. It only takes about 140°F to burn you. A hair dryer (and probably even a heat gun) isn't going to do anything to that steel. However I would be careful around the scales. While the same will likely not effect the Titanium alloy (I would be surprised if it was commercially pure titanium). It may effect the carbidization that has likely been applied to it (e.i. you might cause the coating on the scales to crack and flake if your not careful).
If you have concerns about drying your knife with a blow dryer.....then don't do that.
Use a rag or blow on it, for Scagel's sake.
BluntCut MetalWorks
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Around 400F is probably applicable to more than 80% of knives out there. So, it depends on how your knife was tempered (let's leave out questions makers right/wrong/good/bad tempering temperature). e.g. aeb-l hrc gradually drops from room to around 300F, then nose dive after that.
http://www.alphaknifesupply.com/Pictures/Info/Steel/AEBL-TC.gif
Metal conduct heat faster in liquid than air, even with moving-air it takes more than a minute to heat up the edge because metal to metal heat transfer (edge toward spine) is faster than air to edge.
Hair dryer blowing air at 1" from noozle shouldn't exceed 212F/100C, so a high probability that over 99% knives temper won't be affected. Some of my knives fall in the exception minute %. So , it's best is to operate/use your tools within supported temperature range, so whenever in doubt - ask :thumbup:
http://www.alphaknifesupply.com/Pictures/Info/Steel/AEBL-TC.gif
Metal conduct heat faster in liquid than air, even with moving-air it takes more than a minute to heat up the edge because metal to metal heat transfer (edge toward spine) is faster than air to edge.
Hair dryer blowing air at 1" from noozle shouldn't exceed 212F/100C, so a high probability that over 99% knives temper won't be affected. Some of my knives fall in the exception minute %. So , it's best is to operate/use your tools within supported temperature range, so whenever in doubt - ask :thumbup: