Thread: RSO # 1

Thanks for your input JDM61. What's done is done so, what have I done then ? I do know it is possible to file it now were as before the file just slipped across the metal surface. I am going to do some filing on the tang ( a little more detail refining) and then heat treat and temper. Probably with a new oven.
From what I understand I can then final grind and hone it up.

Hurry up and finish it. That looks like it will turn out really well.

I see Mike just said the same thing.
Don't worry. If you didn't overheat, you did fine.

This story is actually longer than 1 year. I bought the N.Mills back when I first developed RAD. I started to learn restoring with it and side tracked into that for some time. As the shop grows the clone razor progresses. I want to get a heat treat oven and when I do I will be able to finish the clone and will finish the Mills at about the same time. My first restore and custom in a set sort of thing. Just the way it's all coming about. Should be complete around May. The shop, the razors, then ???

I forgot you started this.
Looking GOOD!

It is looking really nice, I don't remember this thread, and for your first try, I think you've got a natural touch for this type of thing, looks really good...

Well I was messing with the tongs and thought about the razor. I heated it up pretty good to punch the pivot hole. I let that cool down in the planter. I picked it up by hand and then put it back in the forge and checked periodically until it was not magnetic and let it cool down the same way. Did that twice. Overheat? Won't know until something goes wrong I guess. Bruno's words of "learn the fire" kept ringing in my ear so I just went for it. I wanted a hole in the dang thing anyway. I am sure I could have drilled it the way it feels under a file but I am glad I tried the punch now.

Originally Posted by 10Pups

Thanks for your input JDM61. What's done is done so, what have I done then ? I do know it is possible to file it now were as before the file just slipped across the metal surface. I am going to do some filing on the tang ( a little more detail refining) and then heat treat and temper. Probably with a new oven.
From what I understand I can then final grind and hone it up.

You can heat to non magnetic and then cover in vermiculite or ashes. As far as I understand, you can't do anything wrong with that. Regardless of whether you use molten salt, ashes, vermiculite or something else, annealing means cooling slow. As long as you didn't overheat, I'd say there is nothing you can do wrong.

I anneal by heating in an iron pipe until everything is orange, and then shutting off the air. Everything will need about 12 hours to cool down from there in the charcoal ashes.

Annealing O1 like you did is what Mike taught me, as well as several other blades smiths I've spoken with, so I'd need to see some serious arguments before accepting that doing it like that would be detrimental to the steel. Until then I'd say you did it the right way. Only, heating to below magnetic first is not that useful. Heat to past non magnetic that will be more useful, then finish like you did.