[TheForge] Borax (Was: A36 vs 1018)

[Andrew Vida]

Chuck Robinson wrote:
> Hey Bruce and Andy,
> It's apparent to me that you folks are not knife smiths.
> I routinely heat treat my knives in molten salt at around 1500 F.
> I did, one time, submerge a cold blade in the molten salt.
> If I hadn't been wearing protective gear the resulting explosion would have 
> ruined my year.
> It was a lesson I won't forget.

	Why is it obvious?  I made my first knife about 30 years ago.
> 
> The Borax on the other hand is never put on the blade till it reaches red 
> heat. That is when scaling becomes a problem. By then all the moisture and 
> other volatiles are long gone.

	People make mistakes.  Some mistakes kill you.
>