Brownells Tough Quench

S

smorgan345

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Mar 8, 2007
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I bought some of this quench oil. It says not for water or air hardening steels.
It does say for medium to high carbon steels. I am planning to quench 1080 with it which I think will be fine. Does anyone know if I could quench 1095 and O1 with it? It's probably more a question for the manufacturer, but I though I'd see if anyone here had any input. Thank you.
Scott
 
AcridSaint said:
IIRC it is not fast enough for 1080, definitely not for 1095, but O1 will work in it.
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Works fine for most steels, IMO. While at Craig Camerer's last year, I did a full quench on some small damascus blades; 1095/15N20. After 3 tempers of 2 hours each at 400, the blades Rockwell at 59-60.
 
IIRC is "if I recall correctly", I can't recall whose oil it is rebranded though. One of the medium speed Heatbath oils or Quenchtex or something.
 
I've used it for years for most all HC steels with excellent predictable results but for 15n20, 1095 and L6 I use Parks 50 for the faster quench required.
 
Do a search over at Don Fogg's forum. Don used it with good results on 1095, albeit for achieving hamon, not full hardening. I am certain it is a Houghton product rebranded, but don't remember if it is G or K or ??.
 
John Frankl said:
Do a search over at Don Fogg's forum. Don used it with good results on 1095, albeit for achieving hamon, not full hardening. I am certain it is a Houghton product rebranded, but don't remember if it is G or K or ??.
Click to expand...

K is the fast
G is the slower

Since it's not fast enough to do 1095 and such, it's likely the G
 
Tough Quench will work find for 1080.

1080 is high in manganese and fairly deep hardening.

Like said, Don Fogg did amassing stuff with 1095 and Tough Quench.

With all that said, Parks 50 is a better choice.
 
In my experience I have consistently found Tough Quench to be too fast for 5160, 52100, and O1. It does work well on low carbon steel and Damascus.

Way back in the 70's Brownell's used to be Texaco type A, then they switched to something faster.
 
Tough Quench is the rebranded 11-13 second Houghton oil, Houghto-Quench Q. The 11 second speed comes at a very specific "sweet spot" which is around 150F. Below or above that down to 100 or up to 200, MOL, it is a 13 second oil. Parks 50 and the Houghto-Quench K, by comparison is a 7-9 second oils. It works well on Admiral 1075 and would work just as well on stuff like Aldo's 1084. Houghton also apparently makes a Houghto-Quench G that is right between the two at 10-11.5 seconds.
 
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