Delaying the Temper?

gull wing

Well-Known Member
440c folder blade
I hardened, quenched, and cryo.
Then had a family emergency and was not able to temper after the cryo.
May I delay the Temper a few days without any ill effect?
 
You're taking a risk the retained stress will fracture the blade but you might get by with it-but that also means that you might not. I would try to do a least a single one hour cycle as soon as you can manage it to relieve the stress. You can go back and do the other cycles later.

Doug
 
Thank you. Also, I have a very slight warp. Shall I try to correct it AFTER the one hour session?
 
I would do one cycle and clamp the knife to a piece of angle iron to straighten it and repeat the tempering cycle. You might have to shim under the blade to cause a slight counter bend. Cold straightening a tempered blade is an iffy situation with a carbon steel. I wouldn't care to try it with a stainless steel

Doug
 
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