Quench Plate Width

WaltE99

WaltE99

Fickle Bastard Blades
Joined
Oct 5, 2015
Messages
179
I am about to HT my first stainless blade and have a question about choosing quench plates. I notice that one vendor has 1x4, 1x6, and 1x8 plates available. My first knife will be an attempt at a fillet knife. Later I plan to do oyster knives and possibly chef's knives.

What determines what width I should buy? How much longer than the blade should the plates be?
How long do you keep a blade between the plates?

Thanks in advance!
 
Mine are 12 x 12 x 1-1/2". Get the biggest,thickest ones you can.
 
I bought a set of 3"x14"x1" plates from ebay. They where $34 shipped. they are large enough for even the largest chefs knives I currently do, but I wish I had more sets of plates, or just larger to do more blades at once, and also to allow some to cool while others have blades between them. Right now, I clamp the blade between the plates and shoot compressed air between them. After 2 or 3 of them, I then dunk the plates in a bucket of ice water to cool them off for the next blades. It's kind of a hectic system, and it works for me, but I'd much prefer multiple sets of plates.
 
Check Ebay.
1X4X12" is $25 a bar
1.25X3X13" is $27 a bar
1.75X3X15.75 is $55 a bar.

Also, check the local metals scrap yard. They often have cut-offs/drops that tey will sell at $1 a pound.

I use 2X4X18" plates. Picked them up at the scrapyard for $30.
 
1-1/2" thick? Pretty thick - seems like most quench plates I've seen were in the 1" thickness range. My set is 1"X3"X12" and will handle my largest chef knifes at 12" long just fine. If there is any of the tang sticking out, sometimes it will warp a tad, but can be straighten as soon as your drop from quench plates. I spray a bit of water over plates to help cooling, but don't know as it's really needed. Remember, as long as the temperature drops below 1100⁰F in 2 minutes or less you've got full hardening.

I would like to have perhaps 4"X15" (or 16") but see no reason for more than 1" thick. This is for doing one blade at a time. I have done a couple of smaller blades at one time, but really prefer doing one blade at a time.

You might check http://www.industrialmetalsales.com - seems like they've got a tad better prices than most on-line supply places.

Ken H>
 
To reply to Kevin, Stacy and Ken....

First of all, thank you! I've looked on ebay several times and the selection seems to vary a lot. I guess it's folks selling their drops. I've already checked out the scrapyard route and one didn't have any aluminum and the other didn't have anything that thick. I understand using whatever you can find in terms of thickness as long as it's not too thin when you are getting it from a scrapyard, but also note that Midwest Knife Supply only has 1" thick in 4, 6, and 8 inch widths

I do note here that, except for SBuzek, nobody is using anything over 4"W and mostly are around 3". I think I will look at some 1x4. Seeing 4, 6 and 8 inch widths made me think there might be some reason to have them a good bit wider than the blade, but now thinking that may not be the case. I assumed having a wider plane to dissipate the heat might be thought of as an advantage, but who knows.

Thanks again!
 
Mine are 1" thick 4" wide and 21" or 22" long. I just attached them to the bench last night and happened to take a few pics. I debated and debated on where to put it so it can be one fluid motion going from oven to plates. Thy are attached to a 9" wide quick release vise. I don't think most people would need plates this long but I have gotten some long blades from customers to heat treat so why not. Just make sure the blade is centered in the vise jaws when you close it. It workes perfec for me to just have one set of plates becaus I only heat treat one blade at a time. So while one blade is in the plates cooling another is in the over soaking. This is especially true with th nitrogen purging I use, one blade at a time.

Photo%20Sep%2025%2C%208%2002%2004%20PM.jpg


Photo%20Sep%2025%2C%208%2002%2036%20PM.jpg
 
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That looks like a pretty cool setup. My shop is waaaaay too small to set plates up permanently.

Thanks!
 
WaltE99 said:
Are you able to do 2 or more blades at a time? I hesitate to even think about what those might cost:eek:
Click to expand...

I can do 3 fixed blades at a time or just now finished doing 3 folder blades and springs (6 pieces) so they are nice.
I lucked into them at a buddies machine shop sold them to me at scrap price, think it was 30 buck about 10 years ago.
 
mine aree 1x6x18 wish i woudl have went longer but thats also the size kiln i have i do even 4.5 inch tall cleavers and i can quench 4 parers at a time
 
Walt, looks like you found a good set. I would be too early in the game for me anyway I still need an oven.
 
this is where i add if you can pay the extra $ get the bigger plates thermal mass is your friend and it does not take me long(7-8 blades in a range of sizes) to make the plates a bit hot to handle tho they still work for quenching. i then cool them in a bucket of water till the next kiln run has finished i can do 3-4 kiln runs a day. all the blades then "sleep" in my LN tank over night i they ramp to my temper temp and put all the blades in easy as could be
 
Sweet setup, JT.
How do you feel about horizontal vs. a vertical plate setup?
I sometimes get a slight bend near the tip when plate quenching, and wonder if it's gravity or the foil packet (or both!). With a permanent vise setup, you could at least reduce gravity's effect somewhat.

JTknives said:
Mine are 1" thick 4" wide and 21" or 22" long. I just attached them to the bench last night and happened to take a few pics. I debated and debated on where to put it so it can be one fluid motion going from oven to plates. Thy are attached to a 9" wide quick release vise. I don't think most people would need plates this long but I have gotten some long blades from customers to heat treat so why not. Just make sure the blade is centered in the vise jaws when you close it. It workes perfec for me to just have one set of plates becaus I only heat treat one blade at a time. So while one blade is in the plates cooling another is in the over soaking. This is especially true with th nitrogen purging I use, one blade at a time.

Photo%20Sep%2025%2C%208%2002%2004%20PM.jpg


Photo%20Sep%2025%2C%208%2002%2036%20PM.jpg
Click to expand...
 
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