How to temper steel

Hardening steel as the heat treatment is a complex process and causing internal and not visible to the naked eye changes in the structure of steel. But along with this hardened parts have properties quite visible: increased strength, sharpness, lower susceptibility to wear. It is known that a properly tempered knife blade or the edge of the sewing can successfully replace the glass cutter and store-bought tool sometimes requires "improvement". Surprisingly, with this magnitude of what is happening with the steel changes quenching in Amateur conditions it is possible. But the principle of all (not only home) of the methods of hardening is the heating of steel to a certain temperature and then rapidly cooled. Most affordable 2 way.

You will need

* item for quenching;
* correlated with the size of the part capacity with any lubricating oil;
* correlated with the size of the part capacity with cold water;
* ticks;
* wax;
* fire (stove, gas burner)

Instruction

For hardening of steel both ways to start detail it is necessary to properly warm up. Take it and put it in the campfire coals. If there is no fire - heat burner or on the stove. But note that for the process of hardening steel is highly recommended it is the coals, because their temperature is much higher than the temperature which can be obtained on the burner or stove.After some time (for example, to "warm up" the knife you'll need about 10-15 minutes), the item will become bright crimson in color, which means that the required temperature has been reached. Mites pull detail out of the fire.

According to the first method, 2 times in a row with an interval in 2-3 seconds dip it in a bowl with butter, leaving at the first dip for 3-4 seconds, the second for 5-6 seconds. Then dip the part in a container of water for the final cooling.

Acting on the second, more "compact" method, after heating the item soak in the wax. Immediately remove and repeat this step as long as your detail does not get cold enough to stop the wax to penetrate.

Note

* along with the improvement of many properties of steel after hardening becomes much more fragile. Therefore, it is recommended to let her go;
* one and the same detail should not be hardened repeatedly. This leads to fatigue of the metal at which it loses the desired properties.

Useful advice

* if you harden, for example, the blade is not proclivity the entire part is heat just the cutting edge;
* if you're new to the hardening of steel, when heated, remove the item every 2-3 seconds. and control the color as there is a great danger of overheating or underheating. In the first case, the item turns white and becomes excessively brittle, and the second gets a bluish color and softened.

Is the advice useful?