High temp salt bath then quench question

[deloid]

When using a high temp salt bath to austenitize followed by a quench into a fast oil what do you do with the molten salt adhering to the blade prior to quenching?

 

[Nebulae]

my understanding is that the blade remains coated with molten salt. the salt will freeze as it cools in the oil, but it shouldn't be a problem. in fact it can protect the blade from the atmosphere when transferring from salt to oil.

 

[rtj1981]

Yep, it protects the blade from any oxygen and leaves the finish pretty much the same as when the blade was put in there. I usually spritz mine off with Windex and then take it inside and use water to wash the salt off.

 

[deloid]

Thanks Nebulae & Rob-

I imagine that some of the salt comes off in the oil and settles on the bottom of the oil container. I'm guessing it's not a significant clean up issue (the salt precipitant in the oil)?

Dean

 

[rtj1981]

The film of salt is so minimal I don't think that there is hardly any that ends up on the bottom or mixed in with your quenchent.