dickb Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 I would like to quit using oil as a quench fluid for a variety of reasons: stink mess when somebody knocked the container over. I am using 1040, 1084, and 1095 and would like to change to water or brine. The work is generally knife blades, approximately 1 inch wide X 6 to 10 inches long X 1/4 inch thick at the spine. Question 1..... How much salt should I use to make the brine? Question 2..... Is there a simple rule of thumb how warm the quench should be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickOHH Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 I believe it is enough salt to float an egg in it and room temp (65f) but I'm sure someone with more knowledge on the subject will chime in, but that has worked for me on a few things that I have brine quenched. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 to float an egg is the old measurement; they probably had fresh eggs back then... However several of those alloys I would not use a water or brine quench on and would not expect successful results. The steel doesn't care if you don't like the smell or possible mess. (I built a holder for my oil quench tube so it couldn't get knocked over without really trying to do it on purpose...) What oil were you using that stunk? Perhaps it's time to go to a professionally made quench medium? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickOHH Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 That makes sense Thomas eggs from the store certainly are not "fresh". Last time I did it I used as much as I could dissolve in the water about a gallon , was just a couple small cable knives. Worked for me. Brine quench is more harsh than oil and could cause some issues with those alloys that like oil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy seale Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 fresh water is 8.34 ppg, saturated brine is 14 ppg. sea water is 9.5 ppg ( for reference) so you could mix up to 5.5 # of salt per gallon, so adj. salt till you get what content you want. but high carbon dosen't like brine. ( tomy limited knowledge) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 See the first paragraph of the sticky above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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