Time to Try My Hand at Hardening a Blade!

[Sp8ctre]

My daughters fiancé made me the greatest quench tank I could ever hope for!

Off to get some oil and I'll be ready to try and harden my first blade. I've always
sent my blades out to have this done. Now we'll see if I can get it right!

There will be some destructive testing videos once I get a few old blades in the
forge and then in the oil...

 

[67plexi]

I use Mineral oil. Next test the hardness on the blade with a fine file if the file wont cut into the blade done.
Next step is to anneal the blade 400F in the oven for two hours.

 

[Sp8ctre]

I use Mineral oil. Next test the hardness on the blade with a fine file if the file wont cut into the blade done.
Next step is to anneal the blade 400F in the oven for two hours.

Thanks, you seem to have as many hobbies as I do!

I know how to do a basic anneal because I've done that with files to make knives from them.

My biggest concern is getting the steel to non-magnetic in the forge and then getting the color just right
for a good quench.

I usually run two anneal cycles at two hours each with a complete cool down in between. I run the oven
at 400 and sometimes up to 450. I've had good results on files, but never done 1080 or 1095.

 

[eSGEe]

I knew this one dancer that could harden a a........... wait--- whcih forum --- er OH NEVER MIND

 

[67plexi]

I did wood carving knifes if they didn't hold a edge worthless

 

[Truss_rod]

Man that's nice. Something I've always wanted to get into.