Heat Treatment

Heat Treating Basics for Knifemakers

Your Complete Guide to Hardening, Tempering, and Getting It Right

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced maker, this 25-page guide walks you through the entire heat treating process—step by step. Learn what really happens inside the steel, how to normalize, harden, and temper your blades at home, and how to avoid the most common mistakes that ruin edge performance.

Includes:

• Clear explanations in plain language

• Oil vs. air quenching tips

• Tempering charts by steel type

• Real shop setups using forges, ovens, or torches

• Common problems and how to fix them

• Safety practices and repeatable methods

No filler. No confusing terms. Just a solid, professional guide you can use again and again. Perfect for home shops, hobbyists, and small-scale knifemakers who want consistent results.