Forty Millionth question about heat treating

[doublearrow]

I just started knife making, just out of the blue and I don't really know much about it other than there is a lot of talk about the heat treating. The knives I have made are out of a bed knife from a greens mower on a golf course, and your every day plain jane file both I assume are already tempered, but I understand I probably lost the temper but heating them. I did not have the blades heat treated and don't know what kind of steel they are. Is there anything I can do either at home as a begginner to heat treat not knowing what kind of steel it is, or am I going to have to find out what kind of steel it is and have it sent off? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[GANNMADE]

you more than likely have carbon steel there . You can
heat treat at home.A act/oxy torch will work a blades 4"
or so . After grinding the blade to shape heat till non magnetic
then quench it oil ,motor oil ,veg whatever you got. then place
in oven at 400 degrees for 1 hour twice.

Also before placing in oven run a file across it should almost
bite and almost skate across the blade. Also do a search
on heat treat at top of the home page

[doublearrow]

Thanks a million for the help Gannmade. I'll give it a shot.

[Jan Dox]

If you don't have a decent torch, a BBQ and hairdryer or heat gun (paint-stripper) will do the trick too. Best chop the larger lumps of charcoal to smaller even pieces to get more even heat (like the Japanese swordsmiths do their charcoal).

Jan