Oil Tempering

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 03-24-2010, 08:48 PM

Well I kind of worked myself into a corner...I fealt my knife I made was taking an edge good after quenching and really fealt I could skip tempering in the oven. I went ahead and attached my scales with Epoxy and pins. I considered tempering the back of the blade with a torch. I have decided on an oil temper in a deep frier. I'll protect the scales with wax and a wet cloth affixed with cordage. I never thought of this before but similar oil tempering is used in industrial applications. Just thought I'd share since I have never heard it mentioned.

**crashdive123** · 03-24-2010, 09:00 PM

How hot do you need to take the oil?

**Ted** · 03-24-2010, 09:03 PM

Realy! Never heard of that, but I still don't realy know squat about this knife stuff.
What temperature? Just fry it till its blue?

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 03-24-2010, 09:03 PM

For most carbon steels you'll need between 4 and 500 deg F. Since this one is unknown, I'd say 425 F is what I am after. I have read for days on this process some say 2hrs. some say 30min. Me I feel good about a straw color and watch color.

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 03-24-2010, 09:09 PM

Since the scales are on,,I could do it in the oven in a stainless cup of water to protect the scales. Either way I wanted to bring up the oil quench...it is another option and alot easier to come by than in the oven if'n you were in a real situation.

**crashdive123** · 03-24-2010, 09:10 PM

How do you plan on maintaing the oil at a constant temperature?

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 03-24-2010, 09:15 PM

Originally Posted by crashdive123

How do you plan on maintaing the oil at a constant temperature?

Using a deep frier, I would suspend a proper thermometer in the oil. I'd think it'd be less variables than an oven. I haven't tried it yet, so I am going on my cooking skills this time...We'll see if it can be done? Not sure if it is for this knife...I am still not convinced that the controlled mineral spirits quench I did wasn't exactly what I am after....But I am gonna experiment with the idea and I like picking yall's brains!

**Ted** · 03-24-2010, 09:21 PM

Thanks CS!

I'm still totally confused on the tempering! Something I read said blue another said straw blue? Good thing I'm not making anything to serious yet!. LOL!

**welderguy** · 03-24-2010, 09:25 PM

Thanks for the tip CS, let me know how that works out.

**randyt** · 03-24-2010, 09:54 PM

sounds like a great plan. i've tempered a few springs in molten lead before and this is the same principle and should work good.

**Camp10** · 03-25-2010, 06:37 AM

Originally Posted by Ted

Thanks CS!

I'm still totally confused on the tempering! Something I read said blue another said straw blue? Good thing I'm not making anything to serious yet!. LOL!

Ted, it all depends on what you are tempering and how hard you want it to be. If you temper a carbon steel from full hard to a blue color you have made it to a spring temper...to soft for a good blade but flexible and tough. For a knife edge, you are looking for a straw color.

**Camp10** · 03-25-2010, 06:45 AM

CS, I like the idea. I cant see why it wouldnt temper the steel and I am very interested in what you get for results. I would guess that the temps would be the same for tempering with either an air or oil heat so I think 425 would be just right for this steel. Rep coming your way for the idea!

**Ted** · 04-06-2010, 11:44 PM

Originally Posted by Camp10

Ted, it all depends on what you are tempering and how hard you want it to be. If you temper a carbon steel from full hard to a blue color you have made it to a spring temper...to soft for a good blade but flexible and tough. For a knife edge, you are looking for a straw color.

Thanks Camp!

**randyt** · 04-07-2010, 07:33 AM

for sake of info i've tempered a few springs by putting them in a small container of oil. like a sardine can, enough oil to cover the spring. then start heating the oil up with a torch until the oil catches on fire. let it go until the oil burns out. the spring is now done.