I used to hammer everything at a bright orange heat. Now I wait for a dull red.

For my first five years, I'd pull steel from the forge the second it glowed bright, thinking I had more working time. I'd end up with a ton of scale and weak spots from burning the carbon out. About two years ago, I watched an old smith in Kentucky work a leaf spring at a much lower temp, and the metal just moved better. I started letting my high carbon pieces cool to a dull cherry, around 1400F, before hitting them. The difference in grain structure is night and day, and I waste way less material. Anyone else make that switch and see better results on tool edges?

2 comments

2 Comments

river18213d ago

Yeah my buddy had the same thing happen... he was always rushing his blades and they'd come out brittle. Started waiting for that dull red like you said and now his stuff holds an edge way better.

coleman.jade13d ago

Oh man, I've definitely rushed and ruined a blade before.