Finally straight AEBL!

scott kozub

scott kozub

Joined
Jan 1, 2018
Messages
861
I do a lot of work in AEBL. Normally I clamp them between quench plates in a vice and use compressed air. My new method was this

1. I drilled and taped 4 holes in my quench plates. They're 1" thick by 15" by 4" aluminum.
2. The knife goes in the plates and are squeezed by a wood working vice.
3. I use an impact to crank down the bolts.
4. Now that everything is tight I move the plates to a bucket of ice water for a few minutes.
5. Then I removed the knives from the plates and cut them out of the foil.
6. Into the liquid nitrogen.

Every single knife came out dead straight. I have always had some bend to deal with.

The knives were all 7" chefs 0.1" thick. I used to use compressed air when in the vice but this was way better.
 
scott kozub said:
I do a lot of work in AEBL. Normally I clamp them between quench plates in a vice and use compressed air. My new method was this

1. I drilled and taped 4 holes in my quench plates. They're 1" thick by 15" by 4" aluminum.
2. The knife goes in the plates and are squeezed by a wood working vice.
3. I use an impact to crank down the bolts.
4. Now that everything is tight I move the plates to a bucket of ice water for a few minutes.
5. Then I removed the knives from the plates and cut them out of the foil.
6. Into the liquid nitrogen.

Every single knife came out dead straight. I have always had some bend to deal with.

The knives were all 7" chefs 0.1" thick. I used to use compressed air when in the vice but this was way better.
Click to expand...
Why you use compressed air ? Steel is wrapped in foil and when it is clamp between plates air have no access to steel ? You cool sides of foil / i doubt that thin foil can transfer cooling effect from air from foil on steel / and maybe , just maybe will cool only spine of steel which make no sense and maybe is reason for wrap ? Did you try just plate without air ? One more thing , till you do first three step steel will already pass critical temperature and water bucket have little or no effect on hardening process ?
wqlI0AF.png
 
Last edited:
Natlek said:
Why you use compressed air ? Steel is wrapped in foil and when it is clamp between plates air have no access to steel ? You cool sides of foil / i doubt that thin foil can transfer cooling effect from air from foil on steel / and maybe , just maybe will cool only spine of steel which make no sense and maybe is reason for wrap ? Did you try just plate without air ? One more thing , till you do first three step steel will already pass critical temperature and water bucket have little or no effect on hardening process ?
wqlI0AF.png
Click to expand...
Yes the knives were still wrapped. I used air mainly to help cool the plates. Typically within a minute or so the knives can be handled by hand. With the old method I'd find the blade still a bit warm but still easy to handle. This new method helps me get the knives to a colder temperature while still clamped.

I was always concerned the compressed air was doing more harm. I should note that the old way the knives were straight before hitting the LN but always warped when they came out. Eventually I plan on making a set of liquid cooled plates.
 
I'm not clear... what is the "new" part?
did you stack any blades or or was it one at a time between the quench plates?

do you run a stress relief cycle on these?
 
I used to clamp between the quench plates and use compressed air to cool.

Now I camp, screw the plates together and dunk the whole assembly in ice water instead of using compressed air. Leave them in water for a few minutes before unscrewing the plates, removing the foil and putting into LN
 
I send my AEB-L blades out for heat treatment to AEB-L whisperer, JTknives JTknives aka Jarod Todd. Whatever he does, they come back straight as an arrow every single time.
 
David Mary said:
I send my AEB-L blades out for heat treatment to AEB-L whisperer, JTknives JTknives aka Jarod Todd. Whatever he does, they come back straight as an arrow every single time.
Click to expand...
Yeah he did an awesome job on mine too! I usually use Jeff Mutz at TruGrit though, who also does a perfect job every time. Highly recommend both!
 
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