Can we talk about quenching oil temperature? I was always told to just keep it 'warm' until a buddy in Boise asked for my actual reading.

Realized I'd been guessing for years, never using a thermometer, which explains why my 5160 leaf springs kept cracking. How do you all manage your quench tank heat?

3 comments

3 Comments

brian_ramirez11d ago

My grandpa in Tulsa never used a thermometer in forty years and his springs turned out perfect every time. All this tech just overcomplicates a simple feel.

patriciap522d ago

How did your grandpa even do that? I tried the hand test for years because my old teacher swore by it, and I ruined so much good steel. My springs would either be way too soft or just snap. Got tired of wasting metal and bought a basic oven thermometer for like ten bucks. Night and day difference, now my temper is actually repeatable. Some of that old school feel just doesn't cut it anymore.

paulschmidt11d ago

Oh man, same exact thing happened to me! I was just going by feel, like if the tank wasn't cold to the touch I figured it was fine. My blades were coming out way too brittle, snapping during the grind. Finally got a cheap infrared thermometer and it was a total game changer. Keeping my canola right around 130 degrees F made all the difference for my 1084. No more cracks.