Oil quenching

Stromberg Knives

strombergknives.com
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Jan 3, 2015
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Hi!

For how long should I quench my blade in the oil?

The steel is O1 and the oil is canola oil.

Thanks!
 
Everything I've ever read about O1 (which I studied for a while years ago for work and getting back into it now for play) is to quench until it is about 140F. Which is right about what the oil will be if you've preheated it to 130F. Which means you just stick it in there until the oil temperature has equalized.

I just quenched my first and I had a thermometer in the oil, preheated it to as close to 130F as I could and quenched, when I did that the temp spiked a bit and I just gently moved it back and forth until the temperature stabilized and the oil wasn't flowing off the blade (convection cooling stage coming to an end). I believe it took almost a minute, though I wasn't timing it.

(sorry for all the F degrees but its very early)
 
The main work is done in about 15 seconds with O-1. That is plenty time for the canola to drop the temperature below 500C.

You can pull it out after that, hand straighten ( with gloves), and then place it back in the oil for a minute to finish cooling below Mf ... or just leave it in the oil for a minute or two and straighten in temper.
 
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