[Woodcarver] Knife making question

[Richard Faulkner]

In my spare time (when I am working - to support my carving) I am an engineer, my degree is in Mechanical Engineering and one of the subjects I studied (years ago) was metallurgy.  

To soften metal, heat it up until it glows and let it cool off slowly.  This is called annealing.  To harden metal, heat it up and cool it quickly by "quenching it in an oil or water bath.  This is called tempering.  Be careful as quenching in water may cool it too quickly and cause it to get to hard making it brittle.

Hope this helps

Dick Faulkner




________________________________
From: Jan Oegema <jancarves3 at rogers.com>
To: [Woodcarver] <woodcarver at carverscompanion.com>
Sent: Friday, March 13, 2009 9:18:45 AM
Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] Knife making question

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Joe D wrotes 
 
I think what you're doing is great. The high-speed steel in 
the drill bit should hold an edge providing the temper wasn't removed during 
processing. If it was removed by over heating and if the carbon wasn't burned 
off you can re-harden them and draw them back to 62 Rockwell (which is about 
where they began
+++++++++++++++++++++++
What repicy do YOU have to harden (or unharden) 
steel Joe ??
 
                                   
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