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knife making question

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El Destructo:
Pat...watch the Colors in the Blade...if you can only get 450...so be it...that will make a nice Blade ...that will be easy to put an edge on...but it won't last as long as a Harder one...really I prefer one that isn't too damned hard anyways....go for it.

Pat B:
Thanks Mike. I'll see what I've got in the morning.  ;)

nclonghunter:
Hey Pat,  if you cut and shaped the metal then I would suspect that the blade was in a soft form. Normally the steel is softened by heating it red hot and slow cooling in sand. After shaping then the steel is again taken to red hot and quince in water to harden. The oven temp and cook time is to soften it again to the temper or hardness you want for what you are doing with it. The temper is based on the carbon and type of metal.

Doesn't really give you the answer you want, but if you can find out exactly what the metal type is then the correct temp and cook times can be found.

check this link....http://www.technologystudent.com/equip1/heat1.htm

If you work on a blade that is already tempered then shaping it without burning the steel is critical. If shaped in this manner then no tempering is needed, just put handles on it.

Pat B:
The metal I'm using is an edger blade that Jonathan annealed and gave me. I cut out the shape with a cold chisel so it was pretty soft. I did most of the shaping with a file but I did use my 6"x48" belt sander but didn't over heat the blade.
  I took the blade out of the oven late last night after it cooled. It was a tan color and with a few licks with a file the edge got shaving sharp. I've attavhed the handle scales with epoxy and will shape the handle and add brass pics today. I'll add pics when I'm done.
  Thanks for the link, NC.    I'll check it out. I am limited to not having the proper tools or a kiln for heating to proper temps so I'm working with what I have on hand. If I get further into this I will make a small kiln(a few fire bricks and a propane torch) and get the other tool necessary to build proper knives.
  Thanks for the help guys. I can see this will be a fun project...as if I need another!!!  ::)

don't cry wolf:
what you gotta do is:
1. heat it up red hot about 1485 degrees until a magnet wont stick to the metal ( acetaline torch or forge is needed )
2. plunge it  strait down into 150 degree vegetable oil ( this quenches or shrinks the steel hardening it )
3. after quenching a file shouldnt scratch the steel, buts its really brittle like glass
4. bake it in the oven at 500 degrees for an hour ( you need to back off the temper some because the steel is too hard and too brittle )
5. if its still too hard after cooling you can repeat step 4 again

as far as i know this is whats gotta be done to "temper" the steel

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