Watching a new guy at the forge skip the final tempering step on a leaf spring knife three times in a row made me realize how many folks think quenching is the whole job.

I had to explain that without that second heat cycle to around 400 degrees, the blade will be too brittle to hold an edge and could shatter on the first real test, so has anyone else seen this specific mistake or have a good way to teach the importance of tempering?

2 comments

2 Comments

thomas_young6d ago

Ever notice how this happens everywhere, not just in forging? People get so focused on the flashy main step they skip the quiet, boring one that makes the whole thing actually work. Like @wade558 said, the exact temp can change, but the step itself is non-negotiable. I see it in cooking all the time, rushing to serve a steak without letting it rest. That final temper is the rest for the steel, and missing it just leaves you with a pretty but useless blade.

wade5586d ago

That 400 degree number is a good general target, but it can vary a lot by steel. Some alloys need a bit higher, some lower. The real key is just not skipping that second oven cycle altogether.