I hate when this happens...

WinDancer

WinDancer

Joined
May 15, 1999
Messages
720
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Just a tad too hot to quench...

Dave Evans
Tenino, WA
 
Dave,did you warm up your quenching oil or was it cold?I have never had this happen,but I feel for you.Dave:(
 
OUCH :eek: :eek: :eek:
I have had them crack before but never break,KNOCK ON WOOD !!!!! What kind of steel was you using ?
Did you forge this blade,and was there a possibility that it already had a stress or small crack in the edge before you quenched it?
Bruce
 
I had that happen once while straightening a knife when it was too cold, and I've had plenty of japanese blades crack and later break when stressed, and they broke just like that. Was this some kind of differential heat treat like that, or maybe an edge-only quench? What was the steel and quench medium? Inquiring minds want to know...
 
This was stock removal using O2.

I use my forge for heat treating and I always forget to turn off the lights to see the true color.

I paid for that this time.

After normalizing, heat treat and triple temper I was sanding off the scale and saw this tiny crack right at the plunge line. I reached over and taped the blade on my vise and she just separated right there on that crack.

I am gonna hang this one right on my forge as a reminder- don't heat 'em to orange when quenching. Turn off the artificial light and watch in the light of the forge ONLY.

I had only about 16 hours in this one. I ground in a ripple on each flat grind [waiting for new belts!] and decided to sand them out by hand on both sides. This took maybe an hour and a half.
This knife had my full attention with the extra work and it really points out to pay attention to what you are doing.

Thanks for the sympathy, guys.

Dave Evans
Tenino, WA
 
WinDancer,

I noticed in your post that you are using the color as a guide to the proper heat. I know that this method works for alot of people, but by any chance are you using a magnet to check the blade?

It seems that it would be alot more reliable rather than relying on the blade color in different ambient lighting.

That was a whole 'lotta work to lose like that.
 
I don't know what to say Windancer. Done it and damn near gave up making the damn things each time. I wouldn't mind so much if I could crank them out in 2 hours like some of the people here, but all of them I do, ugly as they are, take me at least 12 hours....I feel for you!::(
 
I do use a magnet that is right on the table by my forge. I have only checked 1 piece of steel that was still magnetic with the lights on. Which means that I almost always overshoot the ideal temp.

Without the lights on it is much easier to judge the color and get them right as they go non magnetic.

Like I said- another great reminder.

I have a forge page on my site if you care to see it operate:

The forge page

Dave Evans
Tenino, WA
 
Does Everyone have a cleaner shop than mine....Geeeze do you have a maid come in once a week.
 
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