Does the Heat Gun Affect the Temper or Hardness?

[redsquid2]

So I like to fine tune the fit of kydex with a heat gun.

I hold the nozzle about 3-4 inches from the part I want to mold, set the gun on low, then count 20 seconds, or until the kydex starts to soften. Then I press it with my fingers. With cotton gloves, of course.

If I am doing this around the blade, will that change the temper or hardness?

Thanks.

Andy

 

[Justin King]

You will melt the kydex outright before you get a blade hot enough to affect the temper, unless you are tempering at unusually low temps or seriously over-heating the kydex. Kydex will mold between 225 and 275 f., most knife blades/steels will be tempered at 350 F. or higher, so there is a fair margin between the two.

 

[Dave Behrens]

You will melt the kydex outright before you get a blade hot enough to affect the temper, unless you are tempering at unusually low temps or seriously over-heating the kydex. Kydex will mold between 225 and 275 f., most knife blades/steels will be tempered at 350 F. or higher, so there is a fair margin between the two.

^This

A heat gun can ruin HT(possible but very unlikely) but you would need to hold it on the blade for a long time, very close and have the gun on high. I to the same thing with my kydex sheaths.

 

[acmetim]

i often wonder when i see people on here regrinding the profile on blades how they keep from ruining the temper.......

 

[CWendling]

i often wonder when i see people on here regrinding the profile on blades how they keep from ruining the temper.......

You dont get the blade that hot when grinding. Just like all post HT grinding. Slower speeds, less pressure....and an occasional dunk in the bucket
I grind barehanded....so when its getting too hot to hold, its too hot to grind is my post HT rule

 

[Justin King]

You dont get the blade that hot when grinding. Just like all post HT grinding. Slower speeds, less pressure....and an occasional dunk in the bucket
I grind barehanded....so when its getting too hot to hold, its too hot to grind is my post HT rule

One of the things that isn't always mentioned along with this (maybe because it is so basic that it isn't considered worth mentioning) is that a sharp, good-quality belt of appropriate grit is a must for grinding post-HT. A dull belt will heat steel much faster than a sharp one, a fine belt will (usually) heat much faster than a coarse one, and a cheap one will dull very quickly on hardened steel.

 

[mete]

Heat gun will work fine , no problem ! I worry more about the finish on the handle.