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Fiddleback

Fiddleback

Knifemaker
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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Oct 19, 2005
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OK, my sheaths are where I want them to be so they'll compliment a knife rather than detract from it. I've finished all the orders I had for sheaths, and stopped taking orders. I've finally acquired an anvil. I built a charcoal forge. I gathered charcoal, scale material, a LARGE assortment of pin stock, and some 5160, and 01 steel, spacer material, etc. Kricket showed me the basics of forging (Thanks bro!). So I'm ready to start making knives.

Except I can't find vermiculite and quench oil. Will the vermiculite at the landscape supply places work/is it the same as used to normalize a blade? I've heard that you've got to buy quench oil by the drum or what not. Is it possible for me to get a gallon or so?

Did I mention I'm excited?:o
 
Fiddleback said:
Will the vermiculite at the landscape supply places work/is it the same as used to normalize a blade?
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Yes.
Mostly thats where they sell that stuff.
As far as I know, thats more or less the only place they might sell that stuff in most towns.
 
Excellent. Thanks guys. I'll stop by a landscaping place today.

I can wait to buy some oil from Darren, no problem. But, in the meantime, what will substitute?
 
Fiddleback,
In the mean time, many people have good luck quenching in peanut oil or ATF.
Matt Doyle
 
K&G also sells quench oil by the gallon..Go to their site open the online catalouge and click on forge welding. The fast quench oil is $20 for 1 gallon or & 90 for 5 gallons..
 
5160 and O-1 aren't "fast quench" steels and will be ok with pretty much any oil. If you're tempering in your wife's oven...she would be happier with you using olive oil or peanut oil (which can be had at Sam's Club or similar for around $25-30 a bucket - gallon, maybe?). Auto Tranny Fluid (any brand) will do the trick as well.

Personally I use Brownell's Tough Quench and Auto Tranny fluid. The Tough Quench is definitely a faster/harder quench, but the ATF is cheaper - so I use it for 5160.

Congrats on catching the bug, Andy! :thumbup:
 
Darren Ellis said:
I am pretty sure we will be able to beat that price.

:)

-Darren
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Cool, I'll wait for you to stock it. How far out are you?

Dan, you had a significant role in that bug. Thanks.:thumbup:
 
Fiddleback said:
Cool, I'll wait for you to stock it. How far out are you?

Dan, you had a significant role in that bug. Thanks.:thumbup:
Click to expand...

I'll have better information hopefully within the week and will keep that other thread updated with info on arrival and such. :)

-Darren
 
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