[Woodcarver] Knife making question

[Jan Oegema]

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
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Thanks Dick 
                                   Woodbutcher Jan
 

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