Watched a new guy at the forge waste half a bar of 1080 because he kept quenching too hot

He was pulling the steel out the second the magnet quit sticking, but I learned the hard way after ruining three knives last summer that you gotta wait for the color to drop below cherry before you dunk it, has anyone else had to unlearn that impatient habit?

2 comments

2 Comments

owens.cameron26d ago

Three ruined blades taught me the same lesson.

brown.gavin26d ago

Waste half a bar of 1080" - yeah I did that with a piece of 1095 last spring. The magnet trick is good but it lies to you if you don't watch the color shift after. I started waiting until the red just barely starts fading to a dull orange before dunking. Also make sure your quenchant is at the right temp. If it's cold it can shock the steel even if you nailed the temperature. Lost a good chef blade that way.