new guy Posted May 13, 2009 Author Share Posted May 13, 2009 ok this weekend i cracked the cleaver i was making my mom when i quenched it. that i chalk up to only normalizing it once before i quenched it. although i did make a nifty skinner from the chunk i cut out when i made the tang. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Normalizing or not wont normally cause that, what temp was it before the quench. what temp was the quenchant, and what did you quench in, and what was the steel, and was that new or used? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new guy Posted May 13, 2009 Author Share Posted May 13, 2009 this was an old leaf spring at non magnetic. i quenched in 180 degree water. it was a heavy blade so i thought i could get a way with hot water. it was a tiny hairline crack that i nearly missed but i checked just beacause you mention cracking a blade. i could have saved the blade but i chose not to bacause i do not feel like it was worth the risk of having a cracked knife (even a wall hanger it was probably going to be used once or twice). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 didnt it get hard enough in oil first? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Hale Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 (edited) If you just want to bang away and you say your goal is to make a wall hangar, and you want money to pay Mom off for the anvil ,,,why not use mild steel and cut out the problems? Mild will allow you all the practice you need to do and raise the % of success in your work. That is always a good thing. And it is not a j hook :) Edited May 13, 2009 by Rich Hale ................. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new guy Posted May 13, 2009 Author Share Posted May 13, 2009 actually steve i do not have oil. and that was the first knife i have had fail in the quench. also the guy i got it from was a fellow smith and said somthing along the lines of 'if it is just above critical it will work 90% of the time.' and it worked for m skinner (a thinish blade). it was just me not normalizing. i learned the hard way on that and normalized my skinner twice not once. also Mr. hale i made serveral knife like objects in mild steel. i wanted something i could use and i use what i have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 (edited) actually steve i do not have oil. and that was the first knife i have had fail in the quench. also the guy i got it from was a fellow smith and said somthing along the lines of 'if it is just above critical it will work 90% of the time.' and it worked for m skinner (a thinish blade). it was just me not normalizing. i learned the hard way on that and normalized my skinner twice not once. also Mr. hale i made serveral knife like objects in mild steel. i wanted something i could use and i use what i have. IF you say so... what do I know Edited May 13, 2009 by steve sells Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dablacksmith Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 ya well... guess your time isnt worth as much as mine... cause the cost of oil is cheap compared to even 1 in 10 chance of a cracked blade..its why i will not harden in water anymore... have fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new guy Posted May 13, 2009 Author Share Posted May 13, 2009 (edited) well. yeah you guys are right. but i got free steel and it was a decent lesson. i need to get oil, for sure, but look to me 90% is pretty decent considering i am a noob. also my time is not worth a cent me not being a pro in all. but thanks for the posts. and when i mean cracked i mean i was not even sure if it was scale flaking off or if it was a real crack. better to be uber safe than uber sorry. i guess i sound upity for a 15 yr old (i am a teen after all!) :) Edited May 14, 2009 by new guy just to rephrase some stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcraigl Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 New Guy. Vegy oil may not be the "best" quenchent, but it is darn cheap. Go to the supermarket and get yourself a few gallons. Cost you less than a movie ticket and lasts a long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panzertank27 Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 ask around for people who change their own cars oil, get it from them its free Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new guy Posted May 15, 2009 Author Share Posted May 15, 2009 i do have access to a ton (by a ton i mean severel hundred gallons) beacause i know an auto repair shop owner. but i am not allowed to have motor oil in the yard. gettin veggie oil is pushing it. i got a gallon for $6.88 (with tax). not cheap (to me) but i can use it for more than just a quenchant. thanks for the posts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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