[TheForge] Warped blade

Mon Feb 23 17:06:26 2004

Seems that most of the good advice has been given, but I haven't seen anyone mention to make sure that you are heating evenly side to side during the quench.  I have made several hundred blades (that is my specialty) over that years and have found that if you follow the advice already given -equal time forging each side, equal grinding(not to paper thin at the edge), quenching in pre-heated oil (even water hardening steel),cutting the oil not figure 8ing, equal heating and tempering, you will reduce the number of warps to near none.  I used to ad-hear to the thought that pattern had a lot to do w/warping, but now I have found that it bears only minimally over all compared to the other factors.  BTW, the thought of including D2 in pattern welded steel makes me shiver.  Have you ever tried to forge it?  REALLY hot hard!!!!   
  As a side-thought for you fine gentlemen and ladies that belong to the ABS(great group, though I don't yet belong)  I had made several hundred blades without the heating to room temp 3 times just before HT (normalizing)and had great results and durable blades, didn't know the value till I was taught by an ABS member the benefits there of.  Believe that it does benefit the blade. Also the thought that quenching in water makes better blades is one that I don't agree with.  Thats why they have different steels quenching in different medias.  The components of the steel dictate how to quench them.
Trusting HIM,
Steve Rollert
keenedgeknives.com
doveknives.com