Recommendation? UK beginner heat treat oven options

O

OTNC

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I am a beginner knifemaker in the UK and have put together a very small workshop to get started.

I bought a nice sheet of O1 tool steel, and a small grinder to get me started making basic knives. I have been lurking the forums and other online resources for some time, but I have run into problems finding home heat treatment options.

I know that O1 might require up to 500F/250C to temper properly, but toaster ovens (mini ovens) that go up to 250C seem to be few and far between in this country.

I'm trying to avoid having to send off knives to a professional company, I'd like to control the process myself, and eventually invest in a proper knifemaking kiln, but I can't afford to blow money on big pieces of equipment at this stage.

Does anybody know where to find a toaster oven like this, or I'm all ears if you have any other suggestions.

This is my first post, please be gentle!

Many thanks,

Ross.
 
You might convince your wife to let you use the kitchen stove. you could get a good thermometer designed to be used in the oven to monitor the temperature.
Admittedly this is not the most accurate or controlled process, but the outcome can be used to gauge how satisfactory the process using the settings selected is.
 
How do you plan on hardening the blades? It needs to be austenitized at 800°C/1475°F.

For O-1, I find the sweet spot in tempering to be right at 235°C/450°F. Most any kitchen oven will do that just fine.
 
I was hoping a propane torch would be enough for a short term measure to bring the blades up to quenching temperature, until I have time and resources to build a forge.

My oven tops out at around 230 or so degrees, and I'm not sure how even the heat is, hence looking for a small tempering oven. I also read on some heat treating posts that O1 can be prone to chipping at 230 so that's why I was looking for a way to heat up to 250 or so.

I'll have to give it a go and see I guess!
 
Well, I've done a fair share of O1 kitchen knives. I like how they perform at 63 HRC (~350 degF temper) with a 15 DPS edge. Haven't had one chip yet, never had any complaints from my customers either. Unless you plan on hacking up bones with it you'll be fine.

I seldom run any of my O1 blades over 400 degF (62 HRC with my setup) and I use a table top oven with a PID controller. You can also build the temperature controller pretty cheap yourself.
 
A propane torch will likely not work for anything but a very small blade. Acetylene torches can be used, but require some practice or you will mess up the HT. I would get with Mike, even if you have to send the blades by Royal Mail.
 
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Thanks Mike, that's incredibly generous!

I'd like to take you up on that one day, you had me at coffee :)
 
Remember O1 needs/likes a set amount of time soaking at the required temp. If you can’t control the temp or soak it for the proper time you might as well just get some 1075-1084. I would not be surprised if 1075-1084 preformed as good or better then O1 if your using a torch to harden the blades.
 
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