Anti-Scale vs. Quench

[TANGUS]

I've been considering obtaining some anti-scale, probably from Brownell's, to be used on the 01 I'll be using. (hate scraping that scale off)

Here's my question, I've if I've applied the powder properly it will melt onto the blade then I raise the metal to non-magnetic. When it comes out of my propane mini-forge, I test the hardness and normally plunge it into a large can of quench (Wayne Goddard's goop). Is this anti-scale application only to be used for those using an electric oven? Or--would it even make a differnce to proceed to quench it then upon cool, remove the anti-scale? sorry if I ramble, but has anyone else ran into this?--thanks, Dan

 

[primos]

Dan,
I haven't tried it in the forge, but I would think that it should work fine as long as you bring your heat up gradually and evenly.

For part two of your question, here's the steps I use:

Bring the steel up to 500-600 degrees. I know you don't have a way to know when it's at temp. I haven't used O1 in a while, but I think it will start turning blue at this temp. Exact temps aren't that critical on this. The thing is, if it's not hot enough, it won't melt over the blade. If it's too hot it may slide off as you apply it.

Bring the steel to critical and quench. Usually some of the compound will come off at the quench. After cooling you can flake away enough of the compound to test your edge.

Test it with a file. The file should skate across the edge like glass. When it's passed the file test, move on to cleaning.

The remaining compound can be disolved in boiling water. While you're heating up the water, also be heating up your oven for the tempering phase. When I get the compound off, I rub the blade down with a Scotch-Brite pad to get to goo shiny clean steel. This is so the oxides will build up on the surface while tempering. The oxides are the colors you see while tempering. It's a good way to gauge and verify that everything's going well in tempering.

Heck, I've just about showed the whole tutorial. I could have just given a link I guess.

 

[Peter Atwood]

Thanks for the pics Terry!

 

[TANGUS]

many thanks Terry--I've looked at your tutorial and its great! I just didn't know if the quench would disturb the anti-scale. again THANKS-Dan