Just took my first try at heat treating carbon steel. I did a stainless blade (440C) a while back and had no real problems. Ahhhh... but that stuff air quenches. Hmmmm.... am I suppose to use turco with carbon? Well, the hammer guys don't... hmmm... can't hurt - used it.
Slow heat to 1200 degrees it said. Heck, this 120V oven takes 1 1/2 hours just to get to 1200. How's that for slow? Another 1/2 hour and I'm getting into the zone. The table said 10 - 30 minutes between 1450-1500. No auto thermostat on this kiln so I had to watch it close. 20 minutes later - still in the zone, I reach in with the channel locks and thank the heavens that my it's my gardening gloves melting - and not my hand.
Back up a few hours. I'm at the local hardware asking for quenching oil. They laugh at me. I try the local "Bumper to Bumper" shop. No Quenching oil. The thinnest thing they had was ATF. Well, heck, if Bob loveless could quench his first blade in left over hydraulic oil, I can get by with ATF for this one.
Hmmm... don't want to try and fit the hot blade through that little hole in the top of the gallon ATF jug. I poured it into an ice cream pail and set it in hot water to warm it up a bit.
In case you think I'm completely nuts, add to the picture - old coveralls - Splash resistant safety goggles and my fire extinguisher beside the exit door - with nothing between me and it.
With glowing blade in the channel lock pliers, I move quickly to the ATF. WOOF!!! (Oh yeah - I'm supposed to completely submerge it so it doesn't flame) I plunge it deeper - right through the side of the pail. A red trail forms along the floor of the garage. Aargh!!! Find another pail - make the switch. All the time, I kept the blade moving to keep it cooling quickly. When it's cool enough to hold, I set it gently on the paper towel I had set there (as part of my careful planning.)
Did I mention I was doing TWO blades? AGAIN!!! WooHoo!
The blades are in the freezer for the night. I'll temper them in the morning.
Man, I haven't had this much fun since the first time the buffer ripped a blade out of my hand.
More as the adventure continues.
Slow heat to 1200 degrees it said. Heck, this 120V oven takes 1 1/2 hours just to get to 1200. How's that for slow? Another 1/2 hour and I'm getting into the zone. The table said 10 - 30 minutes between 1450-1500. No auto thermostat on this kiln so I had to watch it close. 20 minutes later - still in the zone, I reach in with the channel locks and thank the heavens that my it's my gardening gloves melting - and not my hand.
Back up a few hours. I'm at the local hardware asking for quenching oil. They laugh at me. I try the local "Bumper to Bumper" shop. No Quenching oil. The thinnest thing they had was ATF. Well, heck, if Bob loveless could quench his first blade in left over hydraulic oil, I can get by with ATF for this one.
Hmmm... don't want to try and fit the hot blade through that little hole in the top of the gallon ATF jug. I poured it into an ice cream pail and set it in hot water to warm it up a bit.
In case you think I'm completely nuts, add to the picture - old coveralls - Splash resistant safety goggles and my fire extinguisher beside the exit door - with nothing between me and it.
With glowing blade in the channel lock pliers, I move quickly to the ATF. WOOF!!! (Oh yeah - I'm supposed to completely submerge it so it doesn't flame) I plunge it deeper - right through the side of the pail. A red trail forms along the floor of the garage. Aargh!!! Find another pail - make the switch. All the time, I kept the blade moving to keep it cooling quickly. When it's cool enough to hold, I set it gently on the paper towel I had set there (as part of my careful planning.)
Did I mention I was doing TWO blades? AGAIN!!! WooHoo!
The blades are in the freezer for the night. I'll temper them in the morning.
Man, I haven't had this much fun since the first time the buffer ripped a blade out of my hand.
More as the adventure continues.
