anealing file with propane torch???

R

rpaladin

Joined
May 15, 2005
Messages
260
i found a few ratty old files that I would grind into knives.
But they are hard as anything. I was told to aneal, them.
right now I have no fordge, just torches.
If I can get then to normal/nonmagnetic, do i just let them air cool to room temp? and then be able to work them with beltgrinder and file??

tnx/ al
 
I have two suggestions to add. Both are about torches. One is to get a "weed burner torch" from Harbor Freight. They hook p to a 20 LB BBQ grill tank you can get at most gas stations. It throws a flame about 6" in diameter and about 4 feet long and will get your files, blades etc up to non-magnetic/critical temp in short order. Also good for heat treating later. Get some fire bricks stack them into a little cave stick your blade in there and blast away....
The other (more indoor friendly.... Read: Don't try the other one in your basement!!....) idea is to go to your hardware store and get a Bernzomatic JTH7 propane torch. Its the one that has a 3' hose to attach to your propane bottle. It burns quite a bit hotter then the regular propane torch that just screws on the end of the bottle. If you use MAPP gas instead of propane, it'll get even hotter.
Either one is a pretty cheap way to get started. The JTH7 runs about34.00 at Lowes, the weed burner is generally about 20-30 bucks from harbor freight.
Do a search either here or google it for "one brick forge" to see the jth7 in action. I have both. I would say get the weed burner first if you can work outside. Easier to get bigger things hot and you don't have to worry about getting one hot while the other end is cooling down....Then pick pu the other as you go. Its a handy thing to have in the shop...
Might want to get a copy of wayne Goddard's book The 50 dollar knife shop for other suggestions on how to get started without spending big bucks....
Good luck, have fun, BE SAFE!
Ed
 
HD has the Model 19199 by BernzOmatic ($24.97 out here). I don't see any difference between it and the JTH7, as they both have the the same UPC...
It's used just like any propane torch, only you don't have to prop up the torch and bottle at the same time, as the bottle is at the other end of the hose...
 
Weed burner good! Mongo like weed burner!
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from Harbor Freight (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=36346 )

You can see a picture of itrade's set up for it in this thread:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=253613&highlight=propane+torch

The turbo torches, JTH7 or JT539T, work best in some type of forge: i.e. one brick forge or paint can forge.

You can see a brick forge and JTH7 torch on Chris Crawford's site. Look in the "Shop Tour" section; it's in the backgroud of the photo marked "A close up view of the forge before going into operation." There is also info/photos on one brick forges here and here (look in the "Forge Gallery"). There is a pretty neat variation of this type forge here.

The paint can forge tutorial is here: http://www.agocschiropractic.com/knives/paintcanforge.pdf

Regards,
Greg
 
As a first experiment you can skip a step and not anneal the blades--just temper them. The files have already been hardened to the upper 60's RC. You could just bake them in your oven until you get them down to 60 RC or lower and grind them to shape. You want to bake them at around 350 to 500 degrees for an hour or two. Try one at 450 for an hour. See if you can cut it with a new file. If not try baking it for another hour.
 
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