heat treating 01, which torch is best and what type of gas?

Matt Shade · Sep 4, 2001

I found some torch kits for what seem like pretty good prices. They're made by benz-omatic or something like that( can't remember how its spelled) and have electronic ignition heads and come weth a small tank and everything. I think the type of flame is also variable.Its not a professional or contractors grade set up by any means, but they seem to be decent.
I need to do a search and find the specifics on HT for 01, I know you guys have gone through it before.But I remember reading that you could do it with a torch pretty effectively. The torches come with propane, MAPP, or MAPP-OXY. Which one would be best for trying to heat treat with? Is there any particular flame shape that would be best ? I'd probably be using it for 7"-8" OAL fixed blades. And maybe some folder blades. I found the 01 and the torches and everything locally and thought it might be something to try for some stuff instead of sending everything away to be heat treated.Please let me know if you think this would work out, or if you think it would be a waste of time and money. I don't have any experience with heat treating or with using a torch for anything but soldering and heating stuff up to bend.Thanks

Eric M Ericson · Sep 4, 2001

Matt, I use propane on small blades. Just the cheap propane plumbing torch(@ $10 ) It takes more than one somtime 3 or 4 to put out enough heat to do a large knife. (try getting them at yard sales for very little)
I use them alot on carving tools or where I need to carefully control heat.
I would keep one around for the small Items and for the larger Items a forge or barbeque grill works just fine. You can introduce air to the coals with a fan if you need to. ( some places, the neighbors complain about a forge, but they hold their tonge about grills, even if you are grilling steel)I will assume you know about forges

Just my thoughts on the matter. I hope they are helpful.EE

Greg Covington · Sep 4, 2001

I would get a few firebricks to hold the heat if you are using a torch. You might have trouble getting an even heat with LP or MAPP Gas if you dont have a chamber to heat it in.

I would look at making a Goddard-like one brick forge and use that.

TANGUS · Sep 5, 2001

Matt,

you've asked the exact question that I am currently pondering. I went to the Bernzomatic website and I thought that the MAPP/Oxygen outfit would probably fit this need. Appears this combination doesn't fall too much short of the temperature output of Acetelyene/Oxygen (at least per someone's numbers). I don't think there is any difficulty in reaching the necessary temperature to heat up 01, but I'll leave further comments to the experts. The rig appears to cost somewhere around $50.00, with the combo of MAPP/oxygen they say you can light weld, braze, and heat treat. If you ran out of gas in the middle of sunday afternoon at least you can go to the local hardware store. I do think the idea of a firebrick forge would be the next application of the torch in question. Just my thoughts.--Dan

johnsonrgc · Sep 5, 2001

I have one of those little torches that use the little bottles of oxygen and mapp/propane gas. The thing gets plenty hot but the flame is pretty small. I have used it to heat-treat a couple of knives and it's worked fine. The big killer for me is that the oxygen bottle doesn't last very long (like 12-15 minutes) and the cost of those things add up. It's also a pain in the neck to light. The valves aren't too precise and it's easy to blow the flame out when your adjusting it.

If it were me, I would spend the 50 bucks on some insowool/kaowool/insoboard/etc and build a small chamber to heat your knives. If you use really good refractory like the above then you can easily get to heat-treating temp with 1 or 2 regular propane torches (depending on the chamber size).

Rick

Michael Bennett · Sep 5, 2001

Dick Baugh wrote an article at Primitive Ways that shows a simple heat treater for small blades:

The article can be seen on www.primitiveways.com

Mike

ragnoor · Sep 5, 2001

HAVING TRIED ALL THE WAYS, THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED HERE,BUILD THE FIREBRICK MINI-FORGE. PROPANE WITH A LG VENTURI TIP WILL WORK FOR HT OF KNFEBLADES. THERE IS A GOOD ARTICLE, BY WG, IN LAST MONTH'S ISSUE OF BLADE. THERE ARE ALL TYPES OF MINI FORGES, FIREBRICK, FOR SMALL OR LARGER BLADES.
KEN (WWJD)

Matt Shade · Sep 5, 2001

Thanks Everybody
I'll hold off on this idea until I've got time to set up one of those mini forges. They don't look too complicated. I didn't know you could make one like that where it could be stored easily, and work off of an LP torch.I don't have room for a real forge, and my main interest is stock removal. Although it might be fun to get into forging some day.

Ray Murski · Sep 6, 2001

Matt I like the Wayne Goddard mini forge for heat treating folder blades. The Bernzomatic JTH7 torch is alot better than the standard plumbing torch. I had trouble with scaling when using Mapp gas.