Going by color takes dim light in deep shade (preferably in dim shop) - and a
bit of experience doesn’t hurt - probably help to have someone walk you through
it the first time.

Peanut oil will work just fine.

Pickup magnet on telescoping wand - few bucks at big box store if you don’t have
one already.  Non magnetic is really a pretty reliable way to determine if it is
hot enough.  Don’t want to overheat it and ruin the steal.

Leave a little residual heat up from the end to temper the hardness back, or if
too small a blade for that try putting in an oven for awhile - 400 F. should be
about right.  .

O-1 is pretty forgiving compared to the more exotics.

Have fun

—Scott

On Jun 12, 2019, at 8:25 PM, Bill Webber via OldTools mailto:oldtools@s...">mailto:oldtools@s...>> wrote:

Hi guys, I'm being a bit lazy here.  I don't want to spend a month wandering
around the internet buzz to analyze a bunch of opinions by people who probably
have never done the work.

So, here's what I'm looking for.  I bought Larry Williams' tape on making
hollows and rounds and he talks about heat treating irons using a torch on a
propane tank along with a couple fire bricks to contain the heat. Then he talks
a little about how to identify the proper temperature.  So, I'd like some
pointers from folks who have actually done this; I know you are out there.

I'm looking at a propane torch like this from HD:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Lincoln-Electric-Inferno-Propane-Torch-Kit-
KH825-01/100341111">https://www.homedepot.com/p/Lincoln-Electric-Inferno-
Propane-Torch-Kit-KH825-01/100341111      500K BTU ought to do it, right?

To determine the right temperature, I've heard of going by color, I've heard of
using a magnet (like I'm gonna stick a magnet to a chunk of metal at a 1000
degrees) Larry Williams talks about 'watching the metal sweat'.  So, can someone
point me to something that works?

Quenching, I hear abut vegetable oil, peanut oil (smells better, they say) and I
guess old motor oil would be ver botem, too flammable, right?

So, any one doing this at home?  Any videos out there on how I want to approach
this?  Any help much appreciated.


---------------------------------------------------
Scott Stager
Columbia MO
573-474-5955 home
573-424-4764 cell
stagers@m...<mailto:stagers@m...>