Quench tank build

[Mike Quesenberry]

This is my version of a quench tank. It's not pretty but it heats 5 gallons of Parks 50 from 80 to 120 in 9 min. and no more smokey shop. :thumbup:I was heating my oil with a chunk of steel heated up in the HT oven. The tank is built from a 8" i.d x 23" pipe and a disc off a plow.

[/url] 000_0004 by Mike Quesenberry, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url] 000_0005 by Mike Quesenberry, on Flickr[/IMG]

The pipe and disc were free from a rancher friend of mine with a rather large scrap pile. The heating element and adapter cost me $20. The element is 4", 120 volt, 1440 watt and the 1" adapter are the only things I had to buy(I'm extremely cheap).

[/url] 000_0003 by Mike Quesenberry, on Flickr[/IMG]

I used another disc as a template to create a tripod base and cut it out on the bandsaw. Welded the the adapter in place, taking my time to not over heat it. Try not to make fun of my welding, this was done with stick and no professional training:barf:

[/url] 000_0007 by Mike Quesenberry, on Flickr[/IMG]

Here I've already welded on the pipe and filled it with water to check for leaks. I found a couple pin holes the next morning, fixed them and checked for leaks again. Mounted a cord keeper and took a spray can lid with blue RTV silicone to seal up the electrical.

[/url] 000_0008 by Mike Quesenberry, on Flickr[/IMG]

Here's the tank with 5 gallons of freshly poured Parks 50.

[/url] 000_0014 by Mike Quesenberry, on Flickr[/IMG]

I took some thin aluminum and made a thermometer holder. Plugged it in and timed it. It took 9 min. to go from 80 to 120 degrees. Then I unplugged it. It dropped down after a few minutes from the mass of the pipe. I think if I pushed it over by 5 or so degrees it would be perfect when the blade was ready to quench.

[/url] 000_0019 by Mike Quesenberry, on Flickr[/IMG]

Finally, I had to build a lid to keep the oh so precious Parks 50 nice and clean.

[/url] 000_0021 by Mike Quesenberry, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[NickWheeler]

Hey Mike, that looks a lot like the ones I built!!! I'd say great minds think alike, but I'd hate to lump you in with me!

 

[Erin Burke]

Hey Mike... nice build. Your welding skills have mine beat by a mile.

I do have what may be a stupid question... but why are you pre-heating your Parks 50 to 120F. I have heard of doing this with some other oils, but Parks 50 has a published working range of 50-120F. Seems like a pre-heat to 120F is a bit on the high side.

That being said, I used to preheat my 50 to 130F before I took the time to read the info on the label.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

The commercial data sheets are more for industrial use than making blades one at a time. 120F-130F is the norm, as far as I know.