[TheForge] No need to temper this blade

[Barking Crow]

Yesterday at our FABA meeting in Sneads Fl. John Butler demonstrated the
steeling of wrought and mild steel tools.  It was a great demo and he made
it look easy as all the welds took first time.  On the chisel blank that
John forged he welded a piece of old file to a piece of mild steel and in
the later discussion said that he would quench it in oil and that there was
no need to temper this chisel blade as the tool steel  was forge welded to
the mild steel backer everywhere and therefore he didn't have to worry about
tempering the tool steel to keep it from being too brittle and breaking as
the mild steel would be dead soft and tough.  This was an interesting  new
concept for me.   It would end up sort of like the expensive Japanese
chisels.  So, I'm wondering what experience or thoughts you guys have on
this decidedly apolitical subject.  Do you think there's an advantage to
having a mild or wrought backer to a steel blade?  Why?

Thanks,    Jeff Valentine