Pro tip: I keep my forge temps lower than everyone recommends

Folks say you need white hot steel for good blades, but I stick to a dull orange glow. Just finished a chef's knife that bends back true every time, no cracks.

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4 Comments

paigep857mo ago

My first blade cracked in half trying for that white heat everyone talks about. Maybe if I'd tried your dull orange method I'd still have a knife instead of fancy scrap metal. Looks like the hotheads don't always know what's best.

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keithowens7mo ago

The loudest advice often pushes people past the point where good sense quietly says stop.

1

hall.joel7mo ago

Idk, "fancy scrap metal" sounds a bit dramatic, @keithowens.

5

wade_wood7mo ago

Actually, calling it fancy scrap metal ignores the skill gap. White heat works fine if you know how to handle it. Cracking usually comes from poor technique, not the temperature itself. Plenty of pros use high heat without issues. Maybe the problem was rushing or uneven heating. Dismissing a whole method because one try went bad is shortsighted.

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