how long should it be in the fire

[monkey boy]

i put an old file in the fire today for about 2 hours, is that long enough to make the metal soft to work with in knife making? i dont know how hot i got the file as it was burried in the fire and i could not see it.

 

[launditch1]

Try filing it(!)see if it bites,if it skates off its probably still hard.
You would need to heat it until its a dull red colour and let it cool as slowly as possible.

 

[monkey boy]

do i let it cool with the fire, because i let the fire cool down for a while then i took it out and let the file cool down its self, im gonna check if its solf tomorrow, but just incase its not is it safe to put back in the fire

 

[Peter_t]

you need to let it cool down as slowly as possable. so put it in bigish fire then take it out when the fire has gone out and is cold

pete

 

[monkey boy]

if iv got it wrong can i put it back in a fire?

 

[Peter_t]

cant see why it wouldnt work

pete

 

[monkey boy]

cool, thanx for the help to day

 

[jimford]

You can harden and soften an ordinary carbon steel - like a file - as many times as you like.

Jim