Question on heat treating

[onewithmu]

I am new to the knife making world and i am working on my first blade I was going to ship it off to Texas Knifemakers supply for heat treating but I am not completely certain when to do this. Should the blade be completely finished when I send it off or...??? Thank you all for the great amount of knowledge on this Forum.

[CWKnifeman]

finish the blade down to a 220 grit grind, some even to a 320 grit. Make sure to leave about 0.030" on the blade edge (less chance of any warppage). Then once you get it back start with the same grit as the grit that you sent it away. If you finished with a 320 grit belt prior to heat treat then I would start with a 220 grit because you can grind down to the edge a little closer than you did prior to heat treat.
Curtis

[DaveRuhlig]

Good advice from Curtis. Make sure you also have all holes drilled for your handle/gaurd before HT also. I will sometimes even go to 400 or higher prior to HT and depending on how I will finish the blade may even buff prior to HT. The idea is to get as many flaws out while the steel is easier to work. It will save you time post HT especially if you're having it done by the pros. It will come back to you pretty darn clean.

If/when you start HTing simple high carbon steels at home in a forge the process can be different since you will most likely have to grind some scale off post HT. No since taking it to 400 if you have to go back to 120 post HT.

BTW - Welcome to the forum!

-Dave