Thread: Anti-scaling compound--two thumbs up!

Good call, Butch. I stand my blades on their spines, edge up, in a slotted piece of firebrick. Also makes it a lot easier to grab them with the tongs prior to quenching.

Josh

Slotted fire brick added to list

Great info here, I can't wait to get the forge going... now if it will just quit raining on my days off ARRGGHH!!!

Thanks Butch and Josh, I'll cut some slots in a firebrick and use that next time. I use vertical quench tanks, so I agitate up and down (not side to side).

Butch, the blade was straight when it came out of the quench. It was only after several minutes of cooling in air that the spine curved to the side. I tried to bend it back, but it was too cool (and hard) by then.

According to the Heat Treater's Guide, O-1 can be Stress Relieved by heating to 1200 - 1250 degrees F for a minimum of one hour. I am under the impression that you guys are using kilns/heat treating ovens, so that might be something you are interested in doing. Until I get my kiln & controller set up, I'll have to stick with Normalizing, which only needs about 15 minutes at 1600 F.