Mrhappybottms Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 Hello, its been a long while since I last posted on here(been super busy with college and what not), and its been just as long since I've made anything on the forge, due to school and my workshop(the garage) is now full of stuff, so there is no room. I am planning on moving my shop out into the "dog run" on the side of my house, and am excited to get back onto forging. But, the one thing I seem to be missing is a quenching bucket. I have a water bucket, but no oil bucket. I want ideas on what to do for a good, long term, quenching tank/container thing. I will be doing projects that will require plenty of length, and others with width. While I will probably use just a 5 gal steel bucket for some of the items with a wider girth, I still don't know what to do for the long container. I've seen some people use a 4-in diameter pvc pipe help upright with some wood, and I've seen people use old long tool boxes. So to the point! I need help/advice for a good(long/tall) container, and I want to see what you guys have. So this is the time for you to show off your ingenuity, or just your quenching tanks. So have fun sharing your stuff, and thanks in advance for any help you provide. (note: I don't have access to a welder, and would prefer to not have to pay someone to weld it together.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacobd Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 Large diameter 12" PVC or similar cap-able pipe, a 5 gal bucket, a 35 gal drum (get from an auto mechanic or similar) old trash can, don't overthink this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 Please please please... do not use PVC, it melts at a very low temperature. You really do need to think about this. Use metal such as a steel pipe is nice, wioth a lid than can be closes to put out fires. PVC is very danerous and foolish to use as a heat treating quench tank, after the PVC melts then you have burrning oil all over the shop, and most likely you also !!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 Pretty much the only thing I quench is blades and so my tank is the bottom section from a welding gas tank; I built a wooden surround for the base so it's very hard to knock over. Knew a smith that burned down his shop using a plastic oil quench tank.....he got a bad burn, destroyed a lot of equipment---he had just finished restoring a powerhammer that was toast afterwards, etc.I also have several heavy chunks of steel with 1/8" steel wire hangers for them to allow me to preheat the oil: heat the chunk and then drop it deep in the tank and hang the hooked end of the wire over the edge...Note two extra suggestions: for blades a disk of wood "rammed" into the bottom of the tank can help prevent "oop'sd" blades from damaging their tips, also a wire mesh "basket" with a piece of wire running to the top of the tank and bent over can make recovery of such dropped blades less of a mess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 You need a fire proof design (read metal) which will contain a large enough quantity of quench fluid. How large? Large enough so it will NOT overheat and either cause problems or catch fire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWooldridge Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 I use an old steel milk can - won't melt or burn and has an attached lid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knots Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 The link below is an older IFI thread on this subject. Have a look. My quench tank, which is at the end of the thread . It is made from a 40 pound propane tank . The lid is fabricated from one domed end hinged to turn down and seal the tank more or less air tight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GottMitUns Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 I use a large ammo can, I think it was for 40mm grenades. I like it because I'm clumsy the top can be latched down tight :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 The best idea I ever saw was a USGI rocket box. I think it was supposed to hold 30mm missiles for something, but I dunno the specifics. Anyway, they're commonly found at surplus stores. 30" tall with an end that opens like any other ammo can you've ever seen. The mouth is something like 8" by 14". All steel construction, waterproof, ready to go to work as a quench tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LawnJockey Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 Being a college man beer kegs should be plentiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kal Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 For just quencing the cutting edge of a blade an old valve cover works well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 USGI 40mm ammo can "Long Bow". Has volume and would be able to edge quench a blade that's fairly long. Measures 18"x6"x10". I wouldn't use it to quench anything that had serious mass, like a hammer, but for chisels and knives it would do very nicely. Or you could get something that stands tall like I talked about earlier. The120mm Ammo Can gives you plenty of depth for long blades, and the volume of quenchant would be good for larger pieces like hammers. Measures 32"x11"x6". Your local army/navy store will have a variety of pre-made quench tanks for pennies. My quench tank is a 5.56 ammo can and it works perfectly. I only make small blades and flint strikers, so there hasn't been much need for volume. You can rest assured, though, that when the time comes to up the stakes, I'll be looking at a larger ammo can from Uncle Sam. If you go the USGI route, just be sure to fill the can with water to check for pinhole leaks in the seams and corners. Nothing worse than filling a can full of oil just to watch it start running out all over the floor because you've got a leak..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpankySmith Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 I've got my oil in a large metal roaster pan with lid (Walmart special) - it's about 6 inches deep, maybe 1 1/2 foot long and 8 inches wide or so. Works for a great deal of what I do but I'd have never thought of the ammo can as an option - nice! My town finally got a small army/navy surplus store, I'll have to go check it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrhappybottms Posted September 13, 2014 Author Share Posted September 13, 2014 Thanks for all of your replies, it really does help. Hoping I can start making stuff soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acronin Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 I was a tually trying to find a new quench tank my self and realized i had some empty map gas/ propane cans laying around i plan to cut them apart and .weld them together to make a quench tank of course they would only be wide enough for knifes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 Be very, very careful cutting any container that ever held anything flammable or explosive. One spark, and we could be reading your obituary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 7 hours ago, acronin said: i had some empty map gas/ propane cans laying around i plan to cut them apart and .weld them together to make a quench tank of course they would only be wide enough for knifes still too small, they wont hold enough fluid to quench with out over heating Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sly Posted February 3, 2019 Share Posted February 3, 2019 Not to sound trollish because i actually use it, but i have a stainless steel thermus (its all steel 1 liter) filled with oil i quench my knives in. I temper them in the same container heated over a popcan forge filled with isopropyl and little holes drilled in the sides the gas burns from. Rebar stake goes into the ground, thermus gets lowered onto the popcan, then strapped to the stake. Works ok for hunting knives nothing bigger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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