[TheForge] Dam warpage

[kim george]

You left out a couple of steps. You need to normalize then straighten the 
blade three times before you quench. The usual beating and pounding it 
takes to make a pattern welded blade and the grinding puts stress in the 
blade that shows up as warping when doing the heat treat. To normalize 
blade heat past critical let cool in still air while resting on round 
stock(to cut down the size of the heat sink), while still warm (too hot to 
hold in your hand without blisters) straiten blade. Each time you do this 
you ease the stress. If after the third time and the blade is still making 
a hard left turn keep doing this step . When you are satisfied with the 
straightness then heat and quench. Sometimes an uneven grind will also 
cause a blade to warp.

Kim George

       "Why for you burry me in cold,cold ground?" Taz