I used to think a quick quench was fine for simple hooks, but a slower oil bath changed the game.

I was making a batch of coat hooks last month and kept getting hairline cracks. Switched from water to a warm canola oil quench, and the difference in the steel's toughness was night and day. Has anyone else found a specific project where slowing down the quench made all the difference?

3 comments

3 Comments

anthony1292mo ago

My old shop teacher always said water works fine for simple carbon steel.

jason_henderson2mo ago

Used to be a big fan of fancy quenches, thought water was too harsh. Then I tried it on some old files I was turning into knives. The water gave them a wicked hard edge that held up way better than my oil-quenched ones. Changed my whole view on simple steels like 1095. Your shop teacher knew what was up.

the_christopher2mo ago

Turning old files into knives with water? That's a recipe for shattered blades.