Spyderco Forums

How hot can I get my blade before I compromise the temper of the steel?

Why do you need to get it hot at all? Is there a reason for heating up the blade, or are you worried about carrying it in hot environments? There are some people that can give you a specific temperature, but I'll just say this. If you are worried about hot environments (firefighting, etc.) the temperature needed to affect temper would not be bearable. The hot water from your average hot water heater shouldn't bother it at all. Heating up the blade in a flame or on a heating element is a bad idea, and I can't think of a really good reason to do it at all.

Does this help? If you are wanting specific temps than you probably need to tell what kind of steel is used for the blade in question.

Paul

Hi Kb. nothing under 300 degrees F. would affect a Spyderco knife blade. Some of our steels would require more than 500 degrees to affect het treat.

sal

Ok, here a question...
I frequently use my knives and get gunk all over the blade. Even with a good oiling before hand it takes forever to get it off. In the past(not with spydies), I would just use my lighter and make it carbon(it just flaked off then). Would this ruin my ATS-55 blades?

You would certainly ruin the blade.

I mean, it would still cut, but the steel would be ruined and when you send it to sal to get it fixed, he'll say too bad Einstein.