I just finished my first blade. I used mild "junk" steel, as I am practicing grinding etc., and didn't expect it to work out. However, it did (with a lot of filing/sanding), so I went ahead and made a one-brick forge and heated/quenched and tempered. The blade is not very hard, due to the poor steel, I assume -- I'll use it as a letter/box opener.
I was suprised, though, at how "non-violent" the quench was. Hardly any smoke, no flame, no noise, even though the steel was red hot and non-magnetic. Was this because the mild steel reaches non-magnetic at a much lower temp? I have some O1 coming -- will that end up "hissing and flaming" when I quench? I'm using olive oil heated to 140 for the quench.
I've been reading threads here about quenching, and problems people have with flareups and smoke, and so nervously prepared a large area in the garage, got fire extinguishers etc. It was rather anti-climactic.
I was suprised, though, at how "non-violent" the quench was. Hardly any smoke, no flame, no noise, even though the steel was red hot and non-magnetic. Was this because the mild steel reaches non-magnetic at a much lower temp? I have some O1 coming -- will that end up "hissing and flaming" when I quench? I'm using olive oil heated to 140 for the quench.
I've been reading threads here about quenching, and problems people have with flareups and smoke, and so nervously prepared a large area in the garage, got fire extinguishers etc. It was rather anti-climactic.
