Quenched a blade too early and watched it crack in half

Last month I was in my garage in Tulsa, working on a chef's knife. I pulled it out of the forge at what I thought was the right color, but the steel was still too hot. As soon as it hit the oil, I heard that sharp snap and the blade split right down the middle. Turns out I missed the non-magnetic test by about 50 degrees. Has anyone else ruined a piece that fast, or is it just me?

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rosek733d ago

Pull the blade out a little earlier next time and watch the oil darken before you quench. I've cracked three blades exactly like that over the years, so you're not alone. The non-magnetic test is a guideline but it's not perfect, you really gotta learn how the steel moves in the heat. Cheap trick I use now is taking a quick file to the edge right before quench, if it bites hard the steel's still too soft. Also preheat your oil to around 120 or 130 degrees, cold oil shocks the metal way worse. Sounds like a blessing in disguise though, better to learn that lesson on a garage knife than a customer's order.