Knifemakers home heat treating recipes

By Stacy Hall

Knifemakers Home Heat Treating Recipes - Second Revised Edition (2026)

The essential knife steel heat-treatment reference guide, crafted by a maker, for makers.

After years of scouring the internet for reliable heat-treating information, SLH Blades founder Stacy Hall compiled this indispensable collection of hardening and tempering recipes for 30+ blade steels. Born from personal experience and countless hours of research since beginning knifemaking in 2012, this workshop companion eliminates the frustration of hunting through manufacturer data sheets and forum threads.

What's New in the 2026 Second Revised Edition:

Based on valuable feedback from readers of the original 2020 edition, this updated version now includes:

Comprehensive normalising protocols - Complete procedures with cycle counts and temperatures for each steelStress relief guidance - When and how to stress relieve, with specific temperatures by steel typeBoth Celsius and Fahrenheit temperatures - Every temperature now includes both C and F for worldwide accessibilityComplete heat treatment sequences - Step-by-step workflows for forged blades, stock removal, and different steel categoriesEnhanced formatting - Improved consistency and readability throughoutExpanded troubleshooting section - Additional solutions to common heat treatment problemsWhat's Inside:

Inside, you'll find straightforward, workshop-tested heat-treating protocols tailored explicitly for knife applications. No lengthy metallurgical essays or beginner basics, just the temperatures, times, and techniques you need to achieve the sought-after hardness for blades in the most commonly used blade steels. All temperatures are provided in both Celsius and Fahrenheit.

Steels Covered Include: Simple Carbon SteelsTool & Spring SteelsStainless SteelsCPM Powder SteelsEach Steel Recipe Includes: Difficulty rating (★ to ★★★★) matched to your equipmentNEW: Normalising procedures with specific temperatures and cycle countsNEW: Stress relief protocols tailored to each steel typeAll temperatures in both C and FPrecise austenitizing temperatures and soak timesRecommended quenching mediums (oil, water, air, plate)Tempering temperatures for target HRC hardness (57-62 HRC)Annealing and normalising proceduresCritical temperature ranges and safety notesSpace for your personal notesOrganised for Quick Reference:

Recipes are presented in a consistent, easy-to-follow format with:

Forging temperature ranges (both C and F)Step-by-step annealing proceduresNEW: Normalising cyclesNEW: Stress relief proceduresComplete hardening protocolsSpace for your personal notes

This compact reference puts years of collected knowledge at your fingertips, allowing you to spend less time researching and more time in the workshop doing what you love-making exceptional knives.

Perfect for: Home knifemakers setting up their first heat treat ovenExperienced bladesmiths adding new steels to their repertoireInternational makers working in Celsius or FahrenheitWorkshop reference for quick temperature lookupsAnyone tired of unreliable forum advice and scattered data sheets

Created by a knifemaker who understands the challenges of home heat treating, this resource belongs on the workbench in every bladesmith's workshop.

Stop second-guessing your heat treatments. Get the reliable reference you need and start making better blades today.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0F59MVV8V
• ISBN13: 9798280005389
• Release Date: April 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 94 Pages
• Weight: 0.23 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 5.3" x 8.0"