Preview: Hardening & Tempering Steel with Harry Bryan
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August 19, 2020
Email this Video to a FriendTempering steel is a useful skill around the shop and in Harry Bryan’s way of going about it, requires only a few tools.
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20 Responses So Far to “Hardening & Tempering Steel with Harry Bryan”
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Mitchell Denny says:
Hi I just wanted to say thank you for sharing this information on how to harden and tempering wood working tools. I am a Alaska native carver and I make my own tools and right now I am in the process of making some new knifes and has been awhile since I had to. To watch you go through the process helped to refresh my memory.
The videos on here are well worth what one pays for the subscription and much more.
Rick Jacks says:
Again, a single video worth a year’s subscription cost. Thank you.
William McCaffrey says:
This works with mild carbon steel. Older products were often made with these mild steels, however more modern products are made with all kinds of alloy steel. If you want to do this reliably, know your steel and follow the manufacturer’s recipe for hardening, tempering and annealing. I make tool blades and knives.
Edwin Slaughter says:
Thanks to Harry for sharing more of his wealth of knowledge of DIY practical projects for shop work and woodworking skills from more traditional, self sufficient times.
Dave Dickmeyer says:
Thanks Harry, it’s nice to actually see those colors appear and to know exactly when to quench. You’ve taken the fear out of the process!
Jeff Patrick says:
Harry’s most crucial comment was that there are lots of ways to do this “technically” correct, but what he showed is plenty good enough for just about everything a woodworker might care about. And that is so true. It happens way too often that people get so hung up on the “right” way to accomplish a task that they don’t attempt a solution at all. I’ve been making stuff for a long time and I still get hung up on that one. It’s good to be reminded.
One more practical bit that I don’t think Harry mentioned: If the piece gets over-tempered (and they often will), don’t panic. Just harden the metal again, re-polish, and temper away. Repeat as needed.
Rick Clark says:
Great video… never to old to learn a technique that has been around for many many years. I have never seen the expert process of Hardening & Tempering steel.
Thank You Harry
Marc LaFrance says:
Please keep filming Harry (and those like him!) because once they cross the bar, their skills and knowledge are gone forever!
John Burgess says:
I learned several crucial facts about the process. Many thanks HB.
Steve Jones says:
Knowledge is freedom Harry. You liberated me from the nit picky complexities of my metalwork teacher. He was responsible for me taking to wood, so good from bad I suppose. Now I can make tools from those scraps I was too scared to tackle. Good times!
Ken Beiser says:
I remember making a cold chisel and punch in my only metal working class in high school. I am mostly a timber framer and woodworker but I am always making tools and such that I have a metal working bench with huge old vise in my wood shop (I am aware of the fire danger). Harry refreshed my memories from my high school teacher. Oh, I still have my punch, chisel and a small ball peen hammer that are in my shop now, 43 years later. Thanks, Harry.
Donald Fraser says:
“Metallurgy in a Minute” I will call it ! …Wonderful video explains the nuances of using scrap steel to make fine tools.
Thomas King says:
Now I have discovered how to bring new life to all those old saw blades that I could never bring myself to throw away.
Michael Mittleman says:
Information-packed video. Bravo, Harry.
Ed Altonji says:
I loved that last 15 seconds “… 80% of of a violin …” Remarkable diversity in skill/talent. Thank you, Harry.
Chris Stask says:
Great instructor, thanks
Alan Anderson says:
Perfect, just enough for a cuppa. Thanks.
Bradford Preston says:
Wonderful video – clear, concise, and informative.
David Lindquist says:
An awesome video, once again.
steve schwartz says:
Harry explained a process that confounded me for 40 years.