Salt bath vs. oil quench, I was a hater until last month

I've been quenching in canola oil for like 8 years and always thought salt baths were just for the big shops with fancy setups. Last month I tried a 900F salt bath on some 1095 knives at a buddy's garage forge in Dayton and the difference in warping was unreal, barely any bend at all. Anyone else made the switch and dealt with the extra cleanup hassle, or is it worth sticking with it?

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brooke5281mo ago

900F is actually on the low end for a salt bath, most run closer to 1000 to 1100 for austenitizing. You probably hit the sweet spot for 1095 but the warp win is more about the even heat than the temp itself.

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