Warning about that new 'fast quench' oil from the big supply house

I got a gallon of it last week for some leaf spring steel. Heated to a bright orange, quenched like normal, and the blade just... popped. A clean crack right down the center. The can says it works for a wide range of steels, but the fast cool was way too harsh for this 5160. I lost a whole afternoon's work. Has anyone else had a bad batch or is this oil just not what they claim?

2 comments

2 Comments

hugo_schmidt1d ago

That stuff is a menace. Had the exact same thing happen with a piece of O1 tool steel, a total write-off. The fast quench they advertise just seems to shock the steel way too hard, no matter what the label says it's good for. My can is now just taking up space on the shelf. It's a real shame to lose a good piece of work like that.

sullivan.finley1d ago

Watched my buddy pull a blade from that stuff and it just snapped clean in two during the temper. He was so mad, said it looked perfect coming out of the forge. Now he won't touch the can, says it's only good for hardening regrets. Really makes you question all the hype they put on the label.