Can you harden steel with used motor oil?

Hardening steel with motor oil is a way of performing what is called the case hardening of steel. Pure steel is actually too soft for many applications. In order to put a hard layer on the steel, carbon must be fused at the molecular level into the top centimeter or so of the steel.

Can you use any oil to quench steel?

Mineral and transmission oils are a suitable alternative for engine oils. They don't normally contain additives that can interfere with the quenching process. Mineral oil quenchants are excellent for oil-hardened steels and steels that require a fast quench rate.

What is the best way to harden steel?

Steels are heated to their appropriate hardening temperature {usually between 800-900°C), held at temperature, then "quenched" (rapidly cooled), often in oil or water. This is followed by tempering (a soak at a lower temperature) which develops the final mechanical properties and relieves stresses.

What liquid is used to quench steel?

Water is an effective medium when the goal is to have the steel to reach maximum hardness. However, using water can lead to metal cracking or becoming distorted. If extreme hardness isn't necessary, mineral oil, whale oil, or cottonseed oil may be used in the quenching process instead.

Can you make steel with oil?

Crude oil is used in the process to make steel. Over the past couple of years, the steel industry in the United States has come under pricing pressure from other nations. There are many nations around the world where steel can be made for much less than in the United States.

After used motor oil quench

What oil can I use to quench a blade?

Canola, Motor Oil, and the Inconel Probe Test

However, some will also use motor oil. I found a study on 1045 steel where they found canola to quench more rapidly than motor oil so I am going to stick with canola as my “cheap” quenching option to test.

What oil Can you use to harden steel?

Mineral Oil

Oil is a third traditional quenching agent, suitable for high-speed steels and oil-hardened steels, and in fact for any steel for which the required degree of hardness is achievable. Oil has a slower rate of cooling compared to either water or brine, but faster than air, making it an intermediate quench.

What did medieval blacksmiths quench their blades in?

The smith then heats the metal so that both the iron and steel are molten and join. The blade is tempered—transformed from soft, workable metal into a hard blade—by holding the blade over a fire and then quenching the blade in a vat of oil or brine.

Is water or oil better for quenching?

Water-quenched steels will generally be harder than oil-quenched steels. This is mainly because the thermal conductivity of water is higher than the thermal conductivity of most oils (that I know); consequently, the rates of cooling will be less rapid (or lower) in oils compared with water.

Can you quench a blade in motor oil?

Motor oils are a common type of quenching oil used in both blacksmithing and bladesmithing applications. New and used motor oils can be used for quenching and are both widely available. New motor oil is typically cheaper to use than commercial quenching oils.

Why do you use oil to quench steel?

Parts made of low-carbon steel and low-hardenability alloys quench better in fast oils. Hot oils are kept at much higher temperatures and are used to ensure that a part's core temperature and surface temperature do not vary too greatly during a quench. This controls distortion and reduces the risk of cracking.

Which is used as common quenching agent?

Despite reports of decomposition of DBPs caused by some quenching agents, particularly sulphite and thiosulphate, a survey of the literature shows that they are still the most commonly used quenching agents in analysis of DBPs.

How hot does oil have to be to quench?

Quenching into oil above 212°F (100°C) has traditionally been referred to as "hot oil" quenching. Oil temperatures in the 195°F - 450°F (90°C - 230°C) range have been used with both ends of the spectrum normally reserved for special applications.

Can you forge rebar?

Cons of Forging with Rebar

A first major con of using rebar for blacksmithing is its unpredictable nature. Most rebar is not made of quality metals and can even contain dangerous fumes when worked. What is this? You can never be sure what the rebar is made of, so final projects can end up brittle.

Why are there no titanium swords?

Titanium is not a good material for swords or any blades. Steel is far better. Titanium cannot be heat treated sufficiently to gain a good edge and will not retain edge.

What quench oil is used on forged in fire?

If you want to use vegetable oil for quenching, coconut oil is a great option. Not only is it an effective quenching oil, but it will also leave your forge smelling great. Generally, vegetable oils are a good option for at-home blacksmiths, as they are widely accessible and easy to use.

Were Roman swords iron or steel?

The roman military swords blade was forged from high carbon steel. By this point In roman history the bloomeries (forges) had talented smiths who had a good grasp on smelting iron ore and producing steel weaponry like those we produce in modern forges.

Can you harden mild steel?

A36 is a low carbon or mild steel, and as such cannot be hardened. It can be case-hardened, however, which just means using a chemical treatment with heat to add a thin layer of tough material around the soft steel core.

Does oil soak into metal?

When metal is coated in oil it forms a protective barrier that stops any external elements from seeping through. This includes water. As H2O is unable to penetrate the metal, the rusting process doesn't start. As well as tangible water, oil also repels the water that's present in oxygen.

Can water be used for quenching?

Water is used whenever the drastic quench will not cause cracking or excessive distortion. It is widely used for quenching non-ferrous alloys, austenitic stainless steels, and low hardenability carbon steels.

How do you permanently blacken steel?