help needed by a first time knife maker

[tradsniper]

well I finally started my first knife after looking at the tutorial in the how-to section and im hooked. I made a drop point out of an old circular saw blade but I dont know how to heat treat it. I dont have a forge so I tried putting it in my charcoal grill and getting it as hot as I could but after about 15 minuites it was showing no signs of getting red and my magnet was still sticking to it very easily. If any of you have any ideas they would be greatly appreciated.

Also the way I heard to heat treat it was to heat it to non-magnetic temps let cool to normal temp then reheat to non-magnetic temps then either dip in motor oil or salt water then let cool to normal temp. after all that put it in the oven at 500 for an hour. Is this correct?

[madness522]

I started with a fire brick forge and a Benzomatic JTH7 torch.  Do a search in this section for fire brick and one I made should come up as well as one Jeremy made which I got my idea from.

[R H Clark]

You can get it hot enough with charcoal if you get some air to it.You could just dig a hole in the ground and rig a pipe with a hair dryer attached. You can get as simple or complex as you want as long as you can get some air to the fire.

I wouldn't use water to quinch.

[Rick Enos]

I'm no pro compared to a lot of these guys but I have a question.??? Did you anneal the knife blade before you shaped it.If not its going to be pretty hard as is.I have annealed quite a few file blades.Then hardened them to non magnetic like you stated above.To harden I start a fire with charcoal let it get good & hot & take my wifes hair blow dryer & get the fire whisteling hot(heat to non Magnetic.& quench in corn oil).Again I'm am a rookie knife maker but know how it is to be hooked & need some answers.This is advise that the knife makers on this site Have given me....Hope it helps.

[prarieboy]

Do a search on You tube also "green pete i make a knife"Welcome to da most fun and addictive thing on the planet!

[David Ricke]

Tradsniper, You can make a small oven using fire brick and a nap gas torch. Nap gas burns at higher temp then propane. I would temper the blade at three fifty for one hour rather than 500.  Good luck   Knife maker

[Ragnarok Forge]

I would strongly suggest buying the $50 knife shop book and reading it a couple of times.  You need to introduce normalizing, reading the steel color, etc... into your skill sets the book will help with that.  Have fun.