Heat Treating

[Jeremy Krammes]

I am new to this site(which is great), and new to knife making. When I start making knives I want to do it right. What should I get to heat treat the blades to make them as strong as possible and hold an edge? I have other questions about equipment, is the the right place to ask, or should I be looking under different headings in the Forum. I'm overwhelmed by the amount of information I'm finding on this site, I surf hear daily.

[Bob Warner]

Welcome,

Go to tool time if you want information about making or using tools like forges, saws, drill presses, hydraulic presses and other tool type issues. If you read the headers of the forums you will get an ##ea of where to ask your question. If you are unsure, the general or the Newbie forum is a safe bet.

As to what to get for heat treating, it depends. Go to the Tool time forum and ask the question again but this time give a little more info. Are you planning to forge your blades or do stock removal? Are you wanting to use stainless or carbon steels? Are you wanting to make small hunting knives or large bowies or swords?

There are a lof of variables depending on your plans and therefore the recommendations and advise will be taylored to your situation, making a lot better answer.

OK?

See you at "Tool Time"

[Terry Primos]

Bob's right. I'll move it over there for you now ...

[Jeremy Krammes]

Thanks for the help, Bob and Terry. For now I'm planning on doing stock removal, mainly on stainless. I would like to make useful hunting knives and folders. Eventualy I want to get into using damascus in "Art" knives. I want to make a knife that someone won't be afra## to use around camp or in the bush and have to worry about sharpening it at the end of the day.

[Geno]

If you want to do S/S blades, you will need a H/T oven.
I use an Even Heat, with a digital control(great tool).
A forge works for C/S, but the alloys used in todays S/S need longer holding times for saturating the heat into the center of the blade.
Heat treat is the sole of the knife, don't skimp here.Get the most machine you can, it will become a good friend to you.