Subject: Brine

From: [email-masked] (James Batson)
Date: Wed, 7 Feb 1996 11:15:24 -0500

An 8 to 10 % salt/water solution by weight, brine, is effective as a
quenchant for water hardening steel at room temperature 70 plus or minus 5
degrees F.  I use 3 1/2 to 4 pounds of ice cream freezer rock salt in 5
gallons of water.  Note that temperature of the solution has a big effect
on the severity of the quench.  Water at 35 degrees F. is about twice as
fast and water at 110 degrees F is about 1/2 as fast as water at 70 degrees
F.

Anything that affects the surface tension of the brine will affect the
cooling rate.  A soap film will slow up the cooling speed.  You should use
rain water every time you make brine to be consistant.

Jim

Bladesmith & Bowie Historian

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From: "Joe B. McGlynn (415) 354-2728" <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 07 Feb 1996 08:42:04 -0800 (PST)

Hi,

Can anyone provide me with a lead as to open forges or smithing classes in the
San Francisco/San Jose bay area?

Thanks,
Joe
([email-masked])