Shoutout to an old timer who showed me how to quench in used motor oil

I was at a swap meet in Tulsa last month and a retired farrier told me to try quenching hot steel in used motor oil instead of water or canola. He said the carbon content helps harden the steel better and it's way cheaper than buying new oil. I tried it on a few punches and noticed less warping. Has anyone else used this trick or stuck with the usual methods?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_dylan1mo ago

Hate to say it but that old timer knew what he was up to. My dad showed me the same trick back when he was still around and it honestly saved me so many scrapped blades. The carbon in used oil really does something different to the steel, less shocking than water but still gives you that nice hard edge. Sucks that it makes such a mess and the fumes are nasty so I always wear a respirator now, learned that one the hard way. Glad someone else is keeping this old school method going, feels like most folks just buy fancy quenching oils online these days.

betty_scott181mo ago

Gotta say I see it differently, @the_dylan. Used oil works fine for a quick quench but I've had more consistent results with canola oil after warming it up. The carbon buildup from old oil can leave uneven spots on the edge if you're not careful, and I've had blades warp more from the thicker sludge. Still respect the method though, just not my go-to anymore.