Nicholas Fotou Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 Forgive the crude drawing, but a friend had an idea. Because oil and water separate, would it be possible to quench through the oil into the water very quickly then pull the blade back into the oil and out. My friend had fairly decent success going quickly into a bucket of water and then into a tank of oil. I realize that it would probably depend on the steel, but what do you think this process could potentially do for a blade. I am fairly new to bladesmithing and only just completed my first pattern welded piece. I would imagine that the forces of both mediums would create different forces on the steel. would it increase/ decrease warping? I would love to hear your thoughts. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven smith Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 I remember thinking of something like this, I thought the oil might reduce the initial thermal shock and the rest of the cooling could be done in water. i don't think it would work the way I thought. It might not work for water hardening steels, or maybe it would be a way to differentially harden a blade. I honestly have no idea but It's fun to think about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Collin Miller Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 Heat treating is something that has been researched and experimented with exhaustively by scientists and industry professionals . My advice is that you do some heavy reading about what they do and imitate it as closely as you can. You will never be able to surpass the quality of a professional heat treat by trying to reinvent the wheel. “If you trust in yourself. . . believe in your dreams. . . and follow your star. . . you will still get beaten by the people who have spent their time working hard and learning things, the people who weren't so lazy.” ~ Terry Pratchett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C-S Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 Hey Nic, Welcome to the forum. I have nothing to add to this subject, other than, i really appreciate the fact you and your mate have thought about the processes involved and have the mental flexibility to think outside of the box. Its quite refreshing. Let me know if you give it a go and how it turns out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 You're certainly not the first to think of that, but the problem is that you want water first, THEN oil. And that's only for a very very few steels. You want the first part of the quench to happen quickly, then slow it down. The pros use Parks 50 for this, because that's what it does. The cheap use water then oil and risk cracking. Mixing the two as you mention is just asking for trouble in that a water-hardening steel may cool off enough as you're plunging it through the oil that by the time it gets to the water it has not hardened. Or worse, it HAS hardened and the shock of water makes it crack, which is what will happen to most steels. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicholas Fotou Posted May 19, 2017 Author Share Posted May 19, 2017 Thank you all for the info. I think I will steer clear of this, but I will definitely pick up some parks 50. I love this forum! I have found a second home Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C-S Posted May 19, 2017 Share Posted May 19, 2017 29 minutes ago, Nicholas Fotou said: I love this forum! I have found a second home Exactly how I feel, specially with the knowledge of people like @Alan Longmire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Detrick Posted May 19, 2017 Share Posted May 19, 2017 3 hours ago, Nicholas Fotou said: Thank you all for the info. I think I will steer clear of this, but I will definitely pick up some parks 50. I love this forum! I have found a second home You won't be sorry; it is quite excellent stuff. “In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer." -Albert Camus http://www.krakenforge.net/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Roberts Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 Also wouldn't the water boiling and vaporizing even if a small bit have the potential to blow hot oil all over you and your workspace ? Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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