Looking for recommendations for books - with an emphasis on heat treating. I know how to "make" a knife...but my heat treatment is completely hit or miss at this point. I'd like to make a quality blade, not just a pretty one.

Thanks.

Because of my financial situation, I'm currently limited to using whatever I can find to make my blades. I'm using files, circular saw blades, automotive springs, and old cleavers.

Can someone describe an overall rule-of-thumb heat treatment process that will give me the best results possible, given that my material will be an unknown variable?

Right now I generally cut the rough shape with a torch, make the blade on a rough grinder and sanding belt(s), heat it to bright red and quench in corn oil, then draw a blue temper in the handle and spine, with a straw temper at the edge.

Does this sound reasonable for an overall process? Thanks.

for scrap yard steel that can only be identified by using the spark test method, that sounds like your doing a good job. I make tomahawks from rr spikes and balpein hammer heads as well as knives fom similar materials and for a scrapyard steel knife, I hase done great for me so far. Of course I am limited to how I can manage the hardening and tempering process so I do things much the same way you do.

I would love to know if "our process" is a good process

What happens when you tried following the information in the sticky's? I will be happy to explain in more detail if you need more help.

Steve,

I hate to admit to being a forum dummy, but the only sticky I see under Bladesmithing is the one on "Choosing Steel". If there are others on heat treating, could you direct me to them? Or are you referring to the Heat Treating forum?

Thanks.

What happens when you tried following the information in the sticky's? I will be happy to explain in more detail if you need more help.

Alloy, design and personal preference controls heat treat! Your basic technique is great for some alloys, OK for others and HORRIBLE for others.

If you are using unknown alloys make it a part of making a blade to test heat treating of it---what we call the junkyard steel rules

Mike look in the knives forum and scroll down a little to the heat treating knives blades section. You will find a couple of articles on heat treating blades there. And if you want to spend a little time and search the forums for old
Q and As on heat treating you may find a ton of information. Also if you local library does not have a copy of The Complete Bladesmith they may be able to get it on loan from another library. Also look in pages section and see if the bp on heat treatment is there yet.

Thanks, Thomas. I think what I might do is to get a source where there's a reasonable chance that the material will be consistent (I know of a trailer fabricating shop where I might get pieces of lightweight leaf springs, for example) and run some snap tests on them.

Thanks again.

Alloy, design and personal preference controls heat treat! Your basic technique is great for some alloys, OK for others and HORRIBLE for others.

If you are using unknown alloys make it a part of making a blade to test heat treating of it---what we call the junkyard steel rules

Thanks Rich, I'll check it out.

Mike look in the knives forum and scroll down a little to the heat treating knives blades section. You will find a couple of articles on heat treating blades there. And if you want to spend a little time and search the forums for old
Q and As on heat treating you may find a ton of information. Also if you local library does not have a copy of The Complete Bladesmith they may be able to get it on loan from another library. Also look in pages section and see if the bp on heat treatment is there yet.

Anyone who heat treats mystery steel should read page 12 & 13 of this document: http://www.abana.org/resources/affiliateshare.old/files/ALEX_BEALER_BLACKSMITH_ASSOC/abealer_newsletter_Feb_06%20%28v%2011%29.pdf

and when you get 'round to it, read this: http://www.feine-klingen.de/PDFs/verhoeven.pdf

Real good stuff - thanks!

Anyone who heat treats mystery steel should read page 12 & 13 of this document: http://www.abana.org/resources/affiliateshare.old/files/ALEX_BEALER_BLACKSMITH_ASSOC/abealer_newsletter_Feb_06%20%28v%2011%29.pdf

and when you get 'round to it, read this: http://www.feine-klingen.de/PDFs/verhoeven.pdf

Anyone who heat treats mystery steel should read page 12 & 13 of this document: http://www.abana.org/resources/affiliateshare.old/files/ALEX_BEALER_BLACKSMITH_ASSOC/abealer_newsletter_Feb_06%20%28v%2011%29.pdf

and when you get 'round to it, read this: http://www.feine-klingen.de/PDFs/verhoeven.pdf

I shared a house with Mark at Hereford.
good to see an old friend passing on good information .