Quench oil

springer82

Well-Known Member
I can only imagine how many oil questions have been asked. I have done more then a few searches. The problem comes in when a friend of mine asks me to make a fillet knife for him. Ok,,, Fine. lol,,, I had a piece of 15n20 about .065 thick. Got it shaped out at the end of the evening. Oh,,, I forgot to say I have never made a knife that thin. I did a Google about heat treating and came across a thread about using veggie oil for a fillet knife. You should not use "normal" oil. Like old motor oil and tranny oil. So what do you think. Will he grow anteni if I quench in my oil or should I go get a few gallons of veggie oil?
 
I would not look on old motor oil or transmission oil as normal oil for quenching. In addition to the additives that can put out some harmful vapors they're going to be a little on the slow side. 15N20 is basically 1070 with about 2% nickel added and my references state that nickel does little to add to hardness so I'm wondering if that also means hardenability. I think that you would be better off with a faster oil such as peanut or vegetable oil. You would definitely be better off with a commercial quenching oil.

Doug
 
As Doug mentioned, you're going to want one of the faster quenchants. Personally, I would recommend Mineral, peanut, or veg oil preheated to 120-130F. If you've never heat treated something that thin, be prepared for some challenges. Namely warping. It can be a major issue with steel that thin, and tends to be worse as the length of the blade increases.

All that being said, knifemaking always entails experimenting when it comes to things you've never done. It's no uncommon to wreck a few blades when you're dealing with something new to you.... it just takes some time, effort, and patience until you find the best methodology. Personally, I would give the quenchant you have a try. If that doesn't yield satisfactory results, try something else. That's just the way it goes with making custom knives.... there are no absolutes when it comes to specific products, or specific methodologies.
 
I second the idea of using veg oil(if you don't have commercial quench oil) and stay away from motor oil or tranny fluid. If you are worried about warping, use quenching plates of aluminum. with thin blades, I quench in oil for a count of 5 or 6, then place blade between two pieces of 3/8" or thicker aluminum either in a vise that you can tighten or put weights on it. let it sit between the plates for a minute or two. with thin stock(most of my blades lately are 1/16" thick), this will usually prevent warp. when you quench, go straight down into the oil, point first, and only move the blade up and down.
as Ed said, you are going to have to find the exact way that works best for you.
 
I can only imagine how many oil questions have been asked. I have done more then a few searches. The problem comes in when a friend of mine asks me to make a fillet knife for him. Ok,,, Fine. lol,,, I had a piece of 15n20 about .065 thick. Got it shaped out at the end of the evening. Oh,,, I forgot to say I have never made a knife that thin. I did a Google about heat treating and came across a thread about using veggie oil for a fillet knife. You should not use "normal" oil. Like old motor oil and tranny oil. So what do you think. Will he grow anteni if I quench in my oil or should I go get a few gallons of veggie oil?

Don’t worry about anybody growing antennas, just commit yourself to doing the best job you can, and for 15n20 a fast quench oil, like Parks #50 or Houghton Type K, will give the best results. It does not have to be a vegetable oil, as far as I know steel is not like a toxic sponge that will keep the nasty flavor of the quench oil. Simply wash it off, not to mention grind or polish, I doubt there will be anything left of it but a properly hardened blade. I will not only confirm what the others have said, I will be even more straightforward and say that automotive products are a bad idea for for any blade, they are not quenchants, they are lubricants or other purposed materials, that also have no health considerations regarding this use.

If you opt for a vegetable based solution remember that not all vegetable oils are the same either. Fortunately there is a simple choice here. If you don’t wish to go with a properly engineered quenchant, canola oil is the safe and effective method. Other common vegetable oils are all over the map in their cooling but canola is about the fastest. Pre-heat your canola to 130F for the optimum cooling curve
 
Don’t worry about anybody growing antennas, just commit yourself to doing the best job you can, and for 15n20 a fast quench oil, like Parks #50 or Houghton Type K, will give the best results. It does not have to be a vegetable oil, as far as I know steel is not like a toxic sponge that will keep the nasty flavor of the quench oil. Simply wash it off, not to mention grind or polish, I doubt there will be anything left of it but a properly hardened blade. I will not only confirm what the others have said, I will be even more straightforward and say that automotive products are a bad idea for for any blade, they are not quenchants, they are lubricants or other purposed materials, that also have no health considerations regarding this use.

If you opt for a vegetable based solution remember that not all vegetable oils are the same either. Fortunately there is a simple choice here. If you don’t wish to go with a properly engineered quenchant, canola oil is the safe and effective method. Other common vegetable oils are all over the map in their cooling but canola is about the fastest. Pre-heat your canola to 130F for the optimum cooling curve

Thanks to all who spent the time to help me. I truly do appreciate it. Ed I'm a research kind of guy. I have read more then a few threads telling me this will look like a pretzel when I'm done. But I have the answer. There is a thread out there that says if I face true north when I quench my blade it will be as straight as a arrow. After 12 years in the Army I can do that!! lol,,,

Kevin sometimes straightforward is not a bad thing. I got that online somewhere. It was easy because I do all my own auto and motorcycle work. So,,, after more then a few Google's I see it is going to be hard finding Parks #50. There is a thread here saying you can get it a Maxim Metalwork's. After going to there site I see they sell there own product. (http://www.maximoil.com/products.htm#Heat Treating Products) I was hoping they would have it at High Temp but they are out with no idea when they will get more. As you said in the other thread Heatbath/Park Metallurgical will not sell to me. They also do not have a list of distributors. Is the quench oil from Maxim the closest I can come to Parks #50???
 
https://www.mcmaster.com/#quenching-oil/=16dsfub

You might check to see if the supply house attached to this forum has quenchant...they will be cheaper on anything than McMaster Carr. The above link is in case you cannot find any. I think Parks 50 is like the fast oil at McMasters....

I saw that on the other thread on this forum. I should call them. There is no name that goes along with any of the oils they sell. Maybe I missed it?? Thank you.
 
The brand is "super" their trade name for the oil is "Quenchall"...I only know 'cause I just looked at the 5gal bucket....it is the same company that makes the coolant I use (Bought from McMaster Carr) MC usually carries high quality stuff....
 
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Parks #50 is not the only quench oil out there but it may be the fastest (at least that I have tested). The first knifemaker I knew that use it was Dan Maragni, it was Dan that introduced me to it and I immediately bought a drum. That must be close to 20 years ago now. I introduced its virtues to mainstream knifemaking shortly afterwards and have since somewhat regretted pushing it so hard because of how over blown it has gotten. You would think that it is the only quench oil made the way some many cling to it, but there are any number of products that are capable of the same applications- Houghton “K” just being one example. But the other problem that has come of it is people not understanding that there is no single quench oil for all steels and Parks #50 is certainly not it. In fact, I am surprised more people are not disappointed in the results of the #50 because of all the total misuse of it.

Parks # 50 is a very fast oil designed for water hardening alloys, so 10XX series and 15n20, W1 or W2 are great with it, but I too often hear of people quenching alloy, or oil hardening steels (O-1, L6 52100, 5160 etc…) and find they have issues… hmmm, you don’t’ say, imagine that, since it was designed to replace water a quenchant and not oil. For steels like in O-1, L6 52100, 5160 Park Metallurgical/Heat Bath made another quenchant called AAA. The other thing that should have given Parks #50 an undeserved bad name is edge quenching. Keeping hot steel in the vapors above the surface will almost certainly flash this oil which is not only dangerous to you, but trashes the oil in short order; canola is the way to go if one intends to edge quench.


Parks #50 and Parks AAA are both very good products that I have worked with for many years, but Houghton type “K” is a pretty good fast oil as well and Hougton’s type “G” is a very acceptable replacement for Parks AAA. Houghton it the oldest and largest quenchant maker, and most of the rebranded oils out there are Houghton, e.g. hint- if you go with McMaster Carr you can follow the specs for Houghton type “G”, if you know what I mean.

The pinch to find that certain oil is only and issue with the fast oils (7-10 second) that you want for 10XX series and 15n20, W1 or W2, for any of the alloy or oil hardening steel a medium speed (11-14 second) oil is what they were made for, and just about any of the commonly available quench oils fall into that category. Don’t get hung up on the different brand names but instead just look at the speed rating, which are the “seconds” I mentioned from the standard nickel ball test or GM Quenchometer testing.
 
I finely had time to make a few calls. One of the benefits of working a 4 day week. One of them was to Maxim. They not only have there own line of oils but also carry Parks #50. It will run ya $92 bucks + shipping. It comes in at 42lbs. The gal that answered the phone was wonderful. She took my order and I should have it next week. COOL!!!


Maxim Petrochemical Corporation
P.O.Box 1434
Burleson,Texas 76097
Facility: 208 Shelby Rd.
Fort Worth, Texas
www.maximoil.com
Office: 817-293-4645
 
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Al's knife

Al'S knife 2.jpgRockwell test Al's knife.jpg

Well,,, It turned out well. With the #50 it came in at 61 Rockwell. I can't complain about that. I've got 15n20 with brass guards and pins. The scales are black walnut. I have to go out and get some linseed oil to finish it off. I think he will be pleased.
 
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