Any benefit to refrigerating or freezing quench plates?

Motor City Mike

Well-Known Member
Seems like if the goal of plate quenching is to rapidly lower the temperature of the steel, then refrigerated or even plates from the freezer would accomplish this faster.

Or is it too much hassle for the benefit...if there is one? Or would it harm the quenching process?

Just wondering.

:les:
 
what are you quenching? if it is AEB-L or 440C, i don't think it would make a difference. if it is 1/32" O1, I would want the plates ice cold.
scott
 
For Sandvik steels the only requirement for full hardening is to get blade temp less than 1100ºF in 2 minutes or less. No need to freeze plates for that. When quenching several blades I do tend to run water over plates with blade clamped - just speeds up quench process a bit and keeps plates from getting too hot.
 
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