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Post by immortanjak on Aug 9, 2022 9:49:28 GMT
I have this large kitchen knife I bought for my Michael Myers costume, the other week I discovered that I could bend it by hand and wish to heat treat it, any advice?
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Post by mrbadexample on Aug 9, 2022 9:53:19 GMT
Does it return to true when you let go?
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tera
Moderator
Posts: 1,280
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Post by tera on Aug 9, 2022 15:44:56 GMT
I don't mean to be rude but I have to ask... You bought a real-steel, sharp kitchen knife to use with a Michael Myers costume you're putting together in August?
Also, why would a costume knife bending be an issue? Wouldn't blunting and dulling it be a more appropriate action than heat treatment?
Just a little confused.
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Yagoro
Member
Ikkyu in Kendo and Kenjutsu Practitioner
Posts: 1,429
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Post by Yagoro on Aug 9, 2022 21:23:42 GMT
I don't mean to be rude but I have to ask... You bought a real-steel, sharp kitchen knife to use with a Michael Myers costume you're putting together in August? Also, why would a costume knife bending be an issue? Wouldn't blunting and dulling it be a more appropriate action than heat treatment? Just a little confused. Well if youre going to dress like michael myers, may as well go the extra step and act like him:) |
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Post by eastman on Aug 10, 2022 2:24:45 GMT
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Post by blackprince on Aug 15, 2022 2:38:15 GMT
Heat the blade until red hot:
When a sprinkle of table salt melts on the glowing hot blade, it is hot enough. The other trick is to use a magnet. When a magnet no longer sticks, its hot enough.
Quench:
Oil is best when you don’t know what the steel is. Specifically quench oil from an industrial supplier is best, however I recommend searching the internet for some cheaper single use options. Or go old school and quench in water, but there is a chance you’ll break it doing that.
Temper:
Put it in the oven at about 350 F or so for 4 hours.
Additional considerations:
you will ruin the handle by either burning it or removing it before starting heat treatment.
I suspect the blade is made of low carbon steel, due to the low cost. If true, the blade will always take a set/bend easily no matter the heat treatment.
It won’t be shiny after heat treating, and probably won’t be sharp either. Hours of time will be needed to get it back up to factory polish again.
I don’t recommend trying to heat treat it if you don’t want to start knife making. Otherwise happy tinkering and don’t forget to use safety gear: goggles, gloves, ear plugs, respirator, face shield, etc. good safety gear is the reason I am still in one piece.
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Post by immortanjak on Aug 16, 2022 14:11:43 GMT
Does it return to true when you let go? No |
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pgandy
Moderator
Senior Forumite
Posts: 9,572
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Post by pgandy on Aug 16, 2022 15:22:34 GMT
“I have this large kitchen knife I bought for my Michael Myers costume” I think this says it all. For a costume what difference does it make? If you want a real knife forget that thing as you’ll spend more time and effort trying to make it into something it’s not. On the other hand, if you want a learning experience…
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