Now that it 80 degrees up here in WI, I decided to dump the old quench tub of last years water. Besides, it was starting to smell bad when quenched metal in it. Found quite a few "treasures," along with the odd bit of clinker....

I had very small red worms living in my front bosh at one point. I don't know what their deal was, but they didn't bother me so I didn't bother them.

off cuts from the ends of bars, burnt up steel bits and the occasional bottle cap. I try to fish the metal out so it doesn't rust a hole in the bottom of my quench bucket, a nice 6 gallon oval mop bucket

I have no idea. Not sure if I even want to know either.

I don't know and don't much care. I "think" I know when stuff falls in there. Mostly.... Maybe.... It usually means I need to make a different set of tongs to be able to hold onto stuff. I live in Southern Louisiana (Hot, wet, Humid) so as long as it doesn't turn green or grow mosquitoes I don't plan to find out any time soon. So far so good. It'll be a full year in about 3 months.

Nothing. I empty mine out after every forging session. I put the embers from the fire into the bucket after they've cooled a bit, and sort the coke and clinkers out, then empty the bucket.

My slack tub and quench tub are two different things but I know what you mean so I won't go all semantic on ya. I have a screen on long handles in the bottom of my slack barrel for two reasons: First is to keep from poking holes in the bottom if (when) I drop something sharp in it. Second the screen lets me fish out whatever's been dropped in it, often things I didn't want to. I have a half wine barrel but don't use it except at demos for aesthetics.

Frosty The Lucky

listerine. dump about half a bottle in there and it kills the critters and smell.

I once found a set of pickup tongs forged and given to me by Cliffton Ralph in the bottom of my 55 gallon slack tub. I had a friend here and he was using them, and when he left I could not find the tongs. I thought he took them but could not believe he would do that. It took a year to find them. I sure was glad I had not said anything to him. Also glad to have the tongs back. Lesson learned dump the tub every once in a while.

Whatever is at the bottom of my quench tank is sure to be old n rusty.

I have had to fish about 5 mouse bodies out of mine lately... most were floaters though. Not sure whether it's worse to have them drowning in the tub or chewing up my stuff?!?

I dump mine regularly, ... but sometimes, it's still something of a Treasure Hunt. :D

Gook! There used to be an old shop in town that had the old trough style slack tub and there was a rubber aligator in theirs. It scared the kids that came in after school.

I have had to fish about 5 mouse bodies out of mine lately... most were floaters though. Not sure whether it's worse to have them drowning in the tub or chewing up my stuff?!?

had a rat in mine .... wasnt floating and gave me a start when i fished it up!!

I have to keep my quench water clean because I cant stop my *&%!!#* catahoula hound from drinking out of it. I love that dog.

I have a screen on long handles in the bottom of my slack barrel

I am sure going to steal this idea, thanks.

Every spring I flush mine out. Every fall I add RV non-poisonous anti-freeze.

About 2 inches of sludge from the fire mop, I keep a lid on it or the dogs will drink it all up

Just a bit of scale that's fallen into the bottom of my slack "bucket". If I drop something in it, I fish it out straight away. My dogs drink from it too, so i change the water pretty frequently.

I am sure going to steal this idea, thanks.

I'm honored.

Frosty The Lucky.

I once dumped mine and found a lower die for the hammer. It was a taper die for sharpening breaker points and I had been hunting for it for over a year!

Rust, mud, scale, lost tongs, lost jobs, even worse what is in the bottom of our oil tub, we found a dead pigeon floating in there, how long it had been there no one knew.

Phil

yep hard to keep the dogs from draining the tub(3 dobbies) frosty ,will take on your idea aswell ,have dived for the odd losts bits over the years ,glen

Instead of dumpster diving in the tub or oil bath maybe try magnet on a stick.

I don't know and whatever is down there I had nothing to do with it.....That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!...... ;)