Thread: Advice on tang bending - W & B wedge

I've got an old Wade & Butcher near wedge that appears to have had the tang deliberately bent at some time and I'm looking to get it returned to something approaching the original shape, if possible. My first thought was to unpin it, clamp the tang in my biggest vise (as a heat sink), heat the bend with a propane torch, and try to uncurl it. However, since we're dealing with high carbon steel here, I'm afraid of cracking it or damaging the heat treatment of the rest of the blade. Anyone have any experience with this kind of thing?

Your plan sounds good to me, that is what I do. Vice for heat sink, be careful where you point flame. Heat and bend.

I have had the best luck bending tangs when the tang is red or dull red.

Charlie

Thanks, Charlie! I appreciate the tip about the color, because I was thinking that the tang should be cherry red or hotter. What about cooling? I'm guessing that a quench would ruin things. What do you suggest?

Here is the method I have used. Fill the jar with water. Vise jaws are brass. This is just a mock up for pictures. I let it cool for a bit and then dipped in water with no ill effects. The blade stayed cold in the water. You'll have some scale to remove and re-polishing of the tang as you would expect. I had one were the tang was bend to the side and when you closed the razor the monkey tail hit the scales. I used an oxy acetylene torch to heat with a #1 tip if I remember correctly. Just thought propane would be to slow and wanted to get the heat done quickly.

Originally Posted by sqzbxr

Thanks, Charlie! I appreciate the tip about the color, because I was thinking that the tang should be cherry red or hotter. What about cooling? I'm guessing that a quench would ruin things. What do you suggest?

I let them air cool until normal looking, then cool in water when a little above hand holding temperature, I have the patience of a 2 year old.

Charlie

I have a question about this technique; in most cases, depending on the metal, when heated and the metal turns red after it cools isn't there some discoloration or is carbon steel exempt from this? If there is discoloration what is the best technique to getting the blade back to normal color?

Originally Posted by DoughBoy68

... isn't there some discoloration or is carbon steel exempt from this? If there is discoloration what is the best technique to getting the blade back to normal color?

You are correct. The color change is an oxidation of the surface. Removing it takes only some mild abrasives if the heat duration was short enough to get the job done efficiently.

The more time taken, the more likely the superficial metal might have a deeper oxidation reaction, even lose some carbon and form a scale. At that point, you're burning away the base materials. That's much too hot for far too long, given the needs of simple tang straightening as in this example.

i have successfully used similar method to the one Karlej has mentioned. I only left the tang out (was bent from (probably) a fall), I heated the steel with propane (or maybe butane) torch, and straighten it with 2 adjustable spannes (or sth similar, don't know the right expression) i used a lot of touch, since I was afraid it might snap... turned out great, no colour change after cleanup also..

Just a quick followup - did the job this evening, turned out pretty well! My thanks to everyone who contributed their knowledge and experience, it really helped me a lot. Special thanks to Charlie and Karl - you guys are the best! Here are before and after shots:

Just about red is hot enough. You only want to bend it slightly whilst needing enough force That you can control it. If it is too hot it will start to behave like overdone noodle and you'll make things worse.