[TheForge] Borax (Was: A36 vs 1018)

[Chuck Robinson]

How many damascus blades in those 30 years?
----- Original Message ----- 
Chuck
From: "Andrew Vida" <osan at netlabs.net>
To: "Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 9:25 PM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Borax (Was: A36 vs 1018)


>
>
> 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.
>>
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