[TheForge] Superquench/hardening power hammer dies

[Andrew Vida]

David E. Smucker wrote:
> Well, I may be stupid, but I still have run into lots of folks who will 
> swear that superquench has made a "silk purse out of a sow's ear".  One 
> recent course at a good blacksmithing school was teaching students that 
> they could make "great woodworking chisels" out of mild steel using 
> superquench. My one word stupid answer for that is "bullshit".  Is it a 
> useful quench --  YES, does it replace engineering and tool steels -- NO.

	Well Dave, there's a big difference between saying it is useful and 
that it will make a fine chisel.  I've made a few serviceable chisels 
from mild steel, but they didn't last very long.  OK in a pinch, but not 
as a substitute for proper materials and processes.  I'm pretty certain 
that everyone here would agree with that.  As for the class you cite, 
what can one say?  It's not only lame, but potentially dangerous.  It 
makes one wonder what other bad information is being disseminated there.