you can also diff. temper is by heating from the spine with a blowtorch can't you?
(but as said ebfore, this mya take some skill)

you guys sure do know alot about this stuff.
I'm actually pretty supirised.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Click my sig for a few knife making links.

i'm now glad i spent all that time reading about austenite, martensite, annealing, and tempering.

I can't wait for tomorrow, i have to go to the garage right now. I'll be back later with some more pics.

Very informative stuff Andy! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

it worked!

i took it down to the belt sander and removed any flakes and restored the edge. i tested it chopping a plank, just like the one from my chop off, before firing and it dented up the edge pretty easily. after firing and sharpening, it chopped the same piece of wood with no dents or chips, biting deeper. i decided i'd like to be adventurous and hit a knot. no damage. thrilling. it's a real knife.

snotpig, you are the man. pics inbound.

Cool! I've always wanted to make my own...someday.

this is what it looked like after the hardening

other side

after some sanding.

the first side cleaned up real easy. this second one's giving me trouble. i do kinda like the character, plus it's pretty late, so i'm leaving it on, at least for now.

Very interesting. I wonder what I could try to heat treat and harden around the house...

glad it's going well so far! and besides the wrap, have you decided whether you'll make a handle?