This article/tutorial
applies to those who use plain carbon and low alloy
steels, rather than high alloy air hardening/stainless
steels. The reason it is not for the high alloy steels
is that the maximum effective temperature for this
compound is somewhere around 1600° Fahrenheit.
I will cover a compound that I use to at least reduce,
and usually completely prevent scale when heat treating.
Be aware that you may well see some things here that are quite different
from the way you do them or have seen them done. I will try to explain
why I do them the way that I do in a meaningful manner. I will also
try to anticipate any questions you may have, and answer them before
you have to ask them.
From time to time I have been asked if I knew a way cut down or eliminate
scale and mild pitting in heat treating. I've also seen the question
posed on knifemakers forums. For some reason I have yet to have anyone
tell me that they took my advice and tried this. I believe this tutorial
may open some eyes and ears, because it's true that a picture is worth
a thousand words.
Rather
than hold you in suspense, let me start by showing
you the
secret "magic" compound. Actually it has been
available and in use for many years.
PBC is a no-scale compound for heat treating. It is sold through Brownells.
Like everything else used in a knife shop other than plain tap water,
the compound can be hazardous to your health, and the prescribed warnings
and handling need to observed. I have my heat treating oven right beside
the door to my shop. I apply the compound to the blade outside to assure
good ventilation.
The glass
container beside the PBC is merely an old spice
jar that I use to sprinkle the compound on the
blade. To continue this tutorial click here.
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