Thread: How hot is to hot?

So I'm working on my first few restoration projects and I'm curious how hot can the blade get before you need to be concerned about loosing the temper of the steel when polishing. I keep a tray of cold water next to me while I'm working on the blades and I find myself stopping every minute or so to cool the blade off which is a little annoying but I don't want to risk damaging them. Is this a little overboard?

No, if it is warm to the touch you should quench. I quench about every 10-15 seconds depending on the compound.. Finer grit compounds build heat faster.

it may be a bit annoying BUT you would much rather die of annoyance rather than see that fateful blue color show up on that blade....

once you burn it.... its done.... safe>sorry....

Once you burn it it is indeed done.
However, as long as you can hold the blade without burning your fingers, it is good.
As long as you can hold the blade with bare hands and take care not to heat too much in 1 place, you should be just fine.

You'll lose the temper at about 400 degrees F. When I'm working, I use my fingers as a guide. It'll get pretty uncomfortable at about 160deg.

The temper temperature varies considerably with alloy composition (some alloys hold hardness over 1000F). That said, if you aren't burning yourself, you aren't burning the temper. Just keep your finger next to the part you're working on.