My old way of quenching a blade was basically a prayer and a bucket of water from the creek.

I was making a small knife last fall and, like a fool, I just dunked it straight in, which of course cracked the edge right down the middle (it sounded like a tiny gunshot, honestly). What's your go-to quench medium for simple carbon steel, and did you ever have a 'learning experience' like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

walker.alex7d ago

Was that tiny gunshot really the knife or just your pride breaking?

sanchez.mary8d ago

Ever try quenching in old motor oil? My neighbor swore by it, said it gave a nice even hardness. I tried it once in his garage and the smoke was so bad we set off his smoke alarm, his wife came out yelling about the smell. Honestly I just use canola oil now, way less drama. That crack sound you heard is the worst, like your project just decided to give up.