Large kiln

[dcfolders]

Can I use a large kiln that opens from the top to heat treat my blades. And how do I get the foil off the blades. To quinch them. Thanks for any help. Darryl Cota

[Doug Lester]

Yes you can use a kiln to heat treat your blades. I haven't used mine to harden a blade but I have to anneal the last two blades that I have worked on. The only difference is the rapidity with which the steel is cooled. I still check the steel with a magnet to be sure that it has gone past the critical point. Because the kiln cools down rather slowly, to anneal I just bring the blade up to heat and then turn the kiln off and let the blade cool down with it.

You'll have to get advice on heat treating foil from someone else as I have never used it.

Doug Lester

[Gary Mulkey]

darryl,

The easiest way of removing the H/T foil that I have found is by cutting the end of the pouch off with scissors. You will need two pair of pliers, one being long nosed to remove the blade from the pouch.

Note: When you grab the pouch or blade with pliers be careful to grab the blade by the tang. At that temperature it is easy to mare the finish of the blade.

gary

[SVanderkolff]

I have used a large pottery kiln for all my heat treat for the last couple of years. Works great. Just build a tower of fire brick inside so you can reach in and get the blades. I would also suggest using quenching plates rather than tring to remove them from the pouch. lay the hot blade between two 2" thick pieces of aluminum and it sucks the heat out fast enough for a real good quench.
Steve

[dcfolders]

Thanks for the info guys. I have gotten some scrap steel form work . two half moons about 11"x1'6" by one and a half inches. I am trying to get the kiln hooked up.I let you"al know how it works.Thanks again Darryl