houghton quench K flame up

[ScottRoush]

Just wondering if other people who use this find that it flames up easy. I've been using Canola up to this point and have had almost no flames. Now... almost every quench. But I'm also using a forced air forge now and my tongs are taking on a lot more heat. It's usually the tongs that cause the flare up. I always hear that these flame-ups can degrade my oil over time. What can a guy do?

You know.. this stuff looks like motor oil but smells like motor oil with Canola mixed in. I'm starting to wonder if somebody at Houghton just filled a bucket up with "Goop" and charged me $100 for it.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

If you are holding the balde the whole time in the forge, switch to a fresh pair of tongs just before the quench.

 

[Rick Marchand]

HQK does look like dirty motor oil.... not transparent like Parks. It flames quick if you are slow on the immersion. Make sure you have it between 125F-150F and don't use it past 160F. Quench quickly and properly agitate. I have had zero flare-ups since adjusting my technique.

Houghton Quench K rocks!!!!!


Rick

 

[ScottRoush]

Thanks.. I have a thermometer and bucket heater for my pre-heat and I always agitate pretty well. That's a good idea on switching tongs. My big wolf jaws have a lot of mass in them and hold a lot of heat....

 

[Ed Fowler]

You ask if aquenching oil degrades over time. My understanding is that the more addatives in the oil, the more it will degrade and need replaced.

My greatest experience is with Texaco Type A and as it is a specific grade of pure mineral oil I have seen no difference over the years from the first blade quenched to the last. I simply add more when it gets low.

 

[Greg Obach]

last week i just emailed a bunch of Houghton rep's and they tuned me in a little bit about the oil..

theres 2 types of that particular fast oil.... a 3440 oil, and quench K...

both are paraffin oils... the 3440 has the oligimers polymers watcha macallits taken out of it by using somekind of solvent...

the quench K is the same oil but its done with some high tech catalyst ...so its super duper pure...

both have pretty close to same cooling curve.. but the K is a better oil and will last longer.. ..and a wee faster

i just bout have enough in the pot for a barrel... not cheep, but very good stuff

sorry its off topic.. but it maybe interesting for you to know

Greg


ps... the Houghton guys were real nice to me... very professional, i definitely appreciate that !!!!!