How to Temper a New Hatchet

Only the blade of a hatchet needs to be hardened and tempered.

The steel in tools is usually both "hardened" and "tempered." Steel is hardened by heating it to a temperature of about 1450 degrees Fahrenheit and then quickly cooling it in an oil bath. Hardening steel makes the metal more likely to chip or break and more difficult to sharpen. So most steel tools, like hatchets and axes that frequently chip and have blades that are likely to be reground, are also "tempered," which is the name for the process that slightly softens hardened steel.

Things You'll Need

• Emery cloth
• Propane torch
• Butane lighter
• Leather gloves
• Blacksmith's anvil or equivalent

Instructions

1. Clean and polish the hatchet blade with an emery cloth. The blade should be completely clean before you begin tempering.

2. Light a propane torch with a butane lighter. Adjust the torch until the flame is pale blue. Put on leather gloves.

3. Hold the hatchet near the head in one hand and heat the hatchet blade with the torch. Constantly move the hatchet blade to prevent overheating any one spot.

4. Continue to heat the hatchet cutting edge until it reaches about 475 degrees Fahrenheit. At that temperature the hottest part of the blade will be a color between dark yellow and pale orange. Some blacksmiths describe the color as "straw."

5. Remove the hatchet blade from the heat and set the hatchet on an anvil or a similarly massive piece of iron. The anvil will help conduct heat away from the hatchet head. Allow the hatchet to completely cool before handling.

References

• Technology Student; Hardening and Tempering; V. Ryan; 2009
• Three Planes; A Woodworker's Guide to Tool Steel and Heat Treating; Peter L Berglund; 2006
• Global Security; Basic Heat Treatment; Naval Education and Training Command
• Big Tree Tools; Woodturning Chisels You Can Make; Jon Siegel