Questoon for the W2 gurus?

[S R Floyd]

When clay hardening to achieve a hamon do you quench in water, brine or fast quench oil? I have had decent sucsess on some old files I have forged getting a nice hamon but have always oil quenched because of not knowing exactly what the steel is. I just ordered some W2 from Aldo and am looking forward to making some Nick Wheeler style hamons!

 

[A C Richards]

Parks 50. Water/brine is not for me.

 

[Bill Burke]

I have found that parks gives a decent hamon but water has a lot more activity in the transition zone. I havenot tried brine but it should give good results with less chance of cracking than water. Parks is the safe way to go.

 

[S R Floyd]

Thank you gentlemen. Does the clay or refractory cement you use make a difference?

 

[A C Richards]

So long as the clay sticks to the blade during the heating and the first part of the quench it really does not make that much difference. I have used red devil, satinite, smooth set, and an off brand furnace cement. they all worked if applied properly, (read sparingly).