Tempering of metal, explained from the forge floor
What the tempering of metal actually does to hardened steel, how temperature and time change hardness and toughness, and how I temper in a home shop.
July 22, 2026 · 14 min read
Topic
Steel and metallurgy
Which steel, and why. Plain-language reference on the steels a home smith actually forges, with the heat-treat basics and where the numbers come from.