Quenching long blades ?

SVanderkolff

SVanderkolff

Joined
Oct 31, 2002
Messages
979
What do you use to quench your long blades. Up to this point I have been using a spaghetti jar full of olive oil but it isn't deep enough for the knife I am making now. Could I use a piece of ABS pipe with the end sealed. I have always quenched point first straight down. That may be part of my problem. Any help greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Steve
 
He might have real problems importing that - ITAR and all that.


How long ?


I've seen jap swords quenched horizontally in water - (spine first???) in what looked like a wooden flower box.



I would skip using plastic.
If it melts, the oil spills out and runs flaming across the floor, that's a bit of a nightmare.


Tall vertical, see a truck service shop, they will have 4" 5" and 6" muffler tubing.



One thing I'd be careful of is having sufficient volume to cool it.
I'd be afraid the spaghetti jar diameter to be too small.




Princess auto has that type of ammo can listed, but $50 instead of $15
maybe you can still get one from them.
http://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/large-metal-ammo-box/A-p8525057e
 
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Ask your local compressed gasses center for out of spec gas cylinders large enough to meet your requirements. Then just cut the top off. My local store gives them to me for free.
 
The best way is to use a piece of pipe , not too small in dia, with a pumping system to circulate the quenchant from below. The warping of the blade is best dealt with by a sub-critical anneal before HT [use 2 hours at 1200 F , straighten if needed ]
 
If you can weld, pipe with a plate bottom is good. Square plare with a hole at each corner lets you screw it down for safety.

Otherwise old gas cylinders and old fire extinguishers work well.

Don't forget a lid to put any fires out.
 
Steve, you've been making knives as long I have been on the internet.
So, I'll bet you're going to be making knives well into the future, as well.
We know that we can quench small blades in a big tank, but not big blades in a small tank.
Get one made that will last you the rest of your career.
And use the largest volume of container you can afford.
Just go to a fabrication shop somewhere and have some weld-monkey weld up a tank for you.
I weld, so I made my own, but I know I'll e using them until I fall face first on the shop floor.



And I made a lid to keep out debris:( see it on the floor)

 
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