What to put inside SS heat treating bag with blade.

[Chris Christenberry]

I've got a blade I'm getting ready to have heat treated.  I've read I'm supposed to put a "small piece" of wood inside the bag along with the blade so it will burn up any oxygen.  But what is a "small piece"?  If I cut a 1/2" piece off one end of a Popsicle stick, would that be considered a small piece?

Edited March 10, 2021 by Chris Christenberry

[Jerrod Miller]

Yeah, that should do nicely.  A good way to visualize this is with those candles in jars (like Yankee Candles).  When you burn a candle you are burning the wax.  When you put the lid on the candle there is still enough oxygen in the jar to burn for a coupe-a few seconds.  Then you run out of oxygen and the flame goes out.  Now think about how much air is in the SS pouch, and how long your chunk of popsicle stick will burn.  The tighter your pouch, the less burnable stuff you need in it.  You aren't going for carbon pick-up in your blade, just a neutral environment.  

[Chris Christenberry]

Yup, I understand the reasoning behind it.  Have just never put a blade in a bag before.  Okay, so I'll seal the bag with a piece about 1/2" long.  My buddy David Mooneyham is going to treat it for me.  Thank God for friends like David.