Thread: Mastro Livi technique

Originally Posted by Bruno

Not in the way you are thinking of.
Auto tempering is something that is convenient if you are working in a production line process where throughput matters. However, it doesn't necessarily save you time per razor. After quenching, I temper my stuff by tossing it in the oven for an hour or 2. That doesn't cost me any time either, since that is what I do at the end of my working day. That way my razors are tempered in a foolproof manner and they are redy the second I want to do something with them.

Additionally, auto tempering is not always possible, since large blades and complex shapes are much more difficult to control.

Also, people like to fawn over names of the experts, but they're just people like you and me. They don't have magical abilities that us mortals are lacking. Noone in that list of names is doing anything that we can't do. That said, if you are just starting out, it is beneficial to do things in a manner that is easily repeatable and easy to analyse. That way you get consistent results, and you have a frame of reference for when you start to experiment with your processes.

Bruno: Thank you for this input. Very helpful explanation. Thanks again!

If I tried this method and do not succeed have I ruined the razor or can I reheat, quench, and oven temper?

Originally Posted by paco

If I tried this method and do not succeed have I ruined the razor or can I reheat, quench, and oven temper?

Generally yes, if you blow the temper you can just do it all over.
That is why I prefer oil hardening steels. They tend to have no risk of warp or breaking, so the risk of having to do it all over are absolutely minimal.
Water quenching is always riskier, and therefore doing it over increases your chances of destroying the blade.

Originally Posted by paco

If I tried this method and do not succeed have I ruined the razor or can I reheat, quench, and oven temper?

As long as you have not done your finish grinding you can re heat treat. Trouble is, it can be difficult to ascertain a missed temper without actually honing the edge IMO.