So, I'm trying to make a knife from a leaf spring. I tried to anneal the steel by throwing it in a campfire. The fire burned for about an hour or so, and I left it sit outside in the ashes overnight. I went out this morning, and drew out the knife shape. I went to cut off some extras, and wrecked a hacksaw blade. Whatever, I dismissed it as being dull when I started. So I broke out the grinder, and cut off a corner. It took a lot longer than I expected. I got about 9/10ths of the way through, and decided I would fatigue the steel and break it off. So I took it over to the anvil, and hit it with a 4 lb hammer. Nothing. Didn't break, didn't bend. Nothing. So I whacked it again. Nothing. I repositioned, and hit it, and the corner didn't bend, but it snapped clean off. WTH!? I thought annealing it softened it, so it was easier to work? Did I accidentally harden the snot outta the steel? What can I do now, to make it workable? This came as such a surprise. lol.
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