05-02-2017, 01:14 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-02-2017, 01:34 PM by Mark Reich.
Edit Reason: Forgot to add...
)
I can only say that everyone tries to get their knife from the kiln to the quench ASAP, which is just quick enough.
If you've seen people quench a blade on tv, and they pull this big fireball out of the oil, remember one thing- That's retarded. The blade is obviously still WAY too hot. The purpose of the exercise is to cool the blade. For this, it needs to stay in the oil, and it needs to keep moving briskly forward and back. Not side to side or in circles, which usually warps the blade.
I suggest two things. First you'll want to find an extra long needle nose pliers with a 90* bend on the tips. You'll find it's much more secure than a regular extra long needle nose, and much easier to feel and control than a heavy set of tongs.
Next, just practice with a cold kiln. Learn how to position the blade for easy grabbing. Have everything situated handily. Concentrate on being smooth and efficient.
When we practice any kind of shooting, we always think along these lines; "Slow is smooth, smooth is fast". Practice being smooth, slowly and very deliberately. You'll end up going fast.
If you've seen people quench a blade on tv, and they pull this big fireball out of the oil, remember one thing- That's retarded. The blade is obviously still WAY too hot. The purpose of the exercise is to cool the blade. For this, it needs to stay in the oil, and it needs to keep moving briskly forward and back. Not side to side or in circles, which usually warps the blade.
I suggest two things. First you'll want to find an extra long needle nose pliers with a 90* bend on the tips. You'll find it's much more secure than a regular extra long needle nose, and much easier to feel and control than a heavy set of tongs.
Next, just practice with a cold kiln. Learn how to position the blade for easy grabbing. Have everything situated handily. Concentrate on being smooth and efficient.
When we practice any kind of shooting, we always think along these lines; "Slow is smooth, smooth is fast". Practice being smooth, slowly and very deliberately. You'll end up going fast.