What effect do temperature changes have on gouges?

slivers&dust · #1 01-15-2007, 01:09 PM

I remember reading a post by someone that said how the steel expands and contracts, at the time I kind of blew by it, but I can’t remember which thread that was in and I’m not quite sure how to search this question out.

…anyway the reason I’m asking is this.

The temp had warmed up some so I moved my tools back out to my shop. Now it has dropped again, this morning my shop was 34*, outside temp 9*, the heat source for the shop is a propane heater which can get the temp up to a comfortable 55-65 + working temp fine.

The questions

What affect, if any, does this have on the gouges?

Does it affect the profile or sharpness any?

Should I be keeping them inside during winter or does it matter?

I would guess it would have no serious affect on them, as my larger power tools with blades or knives on them seem to be fine going through this.

Still this is one of those nagging questions I’ve got goin’ on so I thought who better to ask then those with the experience.

mdallensr · #2 01-15-2007, 05:23 PM

The temperatures and changes you described should have no effect on your gouges. The first higher temperature you should worry about is about 400F, then 800F. The first lower temp that could affect your tools would be -80F, and you're going to need artificial means to get that low. The most noticeable change in dimensions due to temperature is longitudinal, but for carving tools, it would be difficult to measure the change in length.

xsailer · #3 01-15-2007, 06:19 PM

I agree totally with "mdallensr" except the word "should have no effect" could be changed to "will have no effect". Can't imagine anything happening except your fingers might get colder or hotter depending on the gouge temperature if you should choke up on the blade.

slivers&dust · #4 01-15-2007, 07:20 PM

rotfl...

thanks guys...lol

Kenny_S · #5 01-15-2007, 07:27 PM

Steve, I have an enclosed Glass porchs that is my carving area. Heated only by a small heater and at best, today it got to a little over 45 degree. I worry more about mositure than temp. Dampness pays heck on tools.

slivers&dust · #6 01-15-2007, 07:39 PM

The first year I was in this house my table saw and joiner tables got a light rusty haze on them over the winter. The garage door was an old metal thing that didn’t seal very well and on foggy days the floor inside would get damp.
I reframed the opening and had an insulated door put in and haven’t had the problem in the past three years…knock on wood.
I’ll be sure to keep on eye on the gouges for any signs of moisture though.

FK · #7 01-19-2007, 11:58 AM

The change in dimensions for steel when temperature changes is approximately 0.001" per 100 degrees F.

If the blade was say 1/2" or 0.500 wide,,,,if the temperature changed from 0 degrees to 100 degrees F the dimension would become 0.501.

Mositure and condensation are the main problems with temperature changes.

Regards,
Fred Krow

Ashbys · #8 01-19-2007, 02:06 PM

Silvers ,
I think the thread your referring too might be the one about a tool becomming dull .

The change you described is not something you would notice. There is a change , FX is completly correct.

that is 1/1000 of an inch change , it can effect your tools over time ( years) not something you will notice in hours.

Now if you want to have a bit of fun , if your using the scary sharp method of sharping , then your using a 2000 grit sand paper.
or 1/2000 which mean if you take your tools and heat them to 100' and then sharpen them would they be sharper since your now getting more area sharpened in the same space than you were before ?

Of course if you let the tools cool down ,.....

=)

Ash

AlArchie · #9 01-19-2007, 03:35 PM

Now wait a minute.....hehehe.....that linear expansion would amount to .001 inch per inch of blade length. If the grit size is 2000 grains per inch, that expansion is less than the width of one grain of abrasive for that inch of blade length. I'd think that in order to make any difference at all the expansion would have to be at least a tiny bit MORE than the grit size.

Even then, they wouldn't be any sharper UNTIL they cooled down.

Boy is this getting semantic.....sorry about that, but I just couldn't let this one go by.

Al

Ashbys · #10 01-19-2007, 04:00 PM

Hehe ,

Al ,
you would gain a little , two grains to be excat.
As ther are 2 grains per 1000th of an inch.

I always loved working in 1/1000 / 1/10000 ect.

It just means the grit measurement of 2000 paper is .0005.

But , .0005 measurements are just a joke as far as real life is concerned.

Ash