Heat Until Soft

• 1). Place the steel in a heat treat oven or forge and slowly raise the temperature of the steel to its particular austenite region. The austenite temperature region is different for each grade of steel and can usually be found from the foundry that produced the sample of steel.
  
  
• 2). Hold the steel at the austenite temperature for at least 30 minutes. The longer the "soak" time, the the better the chances that the entire piece of steel is annealed.
  
  
• 3). Lower the temperature of the steel slowly. Depending on the grade of steel, the temperature drop can be as slow as 5 degrees Fahrenheit per hour.
  
  
• 4). Cool the steel to room temperature and machine as needed.