Truth or Myth? Quenching tank needs to be oriented north/south??

Col Defender

Col Defender

Joined
Nov 11, 2011
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Got this from watching History Channel's "Iron and Fire". Daniel Casey, blacksmith has said at least twice that the quenching tank must be oriented north/south, not east/west. Reason? When quenching a blade during heat treat it will of course be non-magnetic but if immersed in an east/west oriented tank, as it cools and becomes magnetic again, the magnetic north pole will exert a pull on the blade and bend it toward the north. So orient your tank north/south and this will not be a problem.

True?

Recently I switched to vertical quenching so need I worry about this?

Thanks.
 
I saw that episode where he was explaining the cause of warp when HT'ing a blade. Be interesting to see what other folks have to say...... I don't worry about N-S of quench tank..... my tank is vertical {g}
 
Consider the amount of pull exerted on a compass needle, which is not only a ferrous material, but magnetized as well. Its not a very strong force when you consider it.
Now a knife going into the quench tank is of course also ferrous material but it has NOT been magnetized. The reason is that the 'magnetic domains' are randomly oriented in non-magnetized iron. You can think of the magnetic domains as tiny little bar magnets. In a piece of iron thats been magnetized, that is acts like a magnet, the domains are in alignment, so the force of the domains works together. In non-magnetized material the forces tend to all cancel one another out, again because of the random orientation of the domains. It is possible to magnetize (make act like a magnet) a piece of iron a couple different ways. One is to bring it into close proximity of a strong magnet and leave it there for a while....eventually the domains will start to line themselves up with the magnetic field. Another way is to pass an electrical current through the material. Electric currents produce a magnetic field which again, the domains will eventually align to.

Enough science, on to your question. The force of the Earths magnetic field is not nearly strong enough to have any significant effect on the magnetic domains in a piece of iron that is being quenched. That said, as far as anyone saying the dunk tank has to be aligned on a N-S axis...only if your into astrology and the moon is in Jupiter. :rolleyes:
 
Ken H> said:
I saw that episode where he was explaining the cause of warp when HT'ing a blade. Be interesting to see what other folks have to say...... I don't worry about N-S of quench tank..... my tank is vertical {g}
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You should be worry :) I hear that those who use vertical tank must go to north or south pole for proper quench :D
 
I watched an instructional knifemaking DVD that taught aligning your quench tank due North. Later I took some knifemaking classes from an ABS Mastersmith who chuckled at the idea.
 
Blacksmiths and bladesmiths have fun with these type statements all the time. It is just a humorous story with no scientific truth.

It is similar to the quench in the belly of a virgin. ( which is ridiculous in its metallurgical content as well as a shameful waste of a perfectly good virgin.)
 
The notable blacksmith Mark Aspery had another. He told me that you must do your tempering on Thursday, facing east.
Huh?
That's his wife's night to go play cards, and if he faces east, he can look out the kitchen window and see her returning, and get the steel out of her oven real quick.
 
elementfe said:
The notable blacksmith Mark Aspery had another. He told me that you must do your tempering on Thursday, facing east.
Huh?
That's his wife's night to go play cards, and if he faces east, he can look out the kitchen window and see her returning, and get the steel out of her oven real quick.
Click to expand...

A wise man, Mr. Aspery.
 
elementfe said:
The notable blacksmith Mark Aspery had another. He told me that you must do your tempering on Thursday, facing east.
Huh?
That's his wife's night to go play cards, and if he faces east, he can look out the kitchen window and see her returning, and get the steel out of her oven real quick.
Click to expand...

This procedure is not only based on observed phenomena, it is also corroborated by a very reasonable risk assessment. Upshot: sounds like a good idea to me! :D
 
Lieblad said:
If one does all quenching under a full moon it will nullify the North-South issue.
It also keeps vegatable oil quenches from going rancid.
Click to expand...

The problem with quenching under a full moon is that tidal effects will cause all of your retained austenite to migrate toward the surface. Best to quench during a solar eclipse. :rolleyes:
 
Ah someone brought up the full moon. Keep in mind the tides are changing rising and lowering by the moon phase! The wind makes the waves. So now if a moon can have this much effect on a ocean size body of water what does it do to a simple little quench tank? Enquiring minds want to know! lol
 
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