The use of oil quenchants is the fiery trend in the world of blacksmithing today. There are caustics and water that spike a stiff competition against the oils. But still, oils emerge to be a metalworkers’ favorite.
When it comes to oils, it’s not one type that exists. With the vast variety, it”s even hard to determine the right oil to choose for the steel-quenching process you want to undertake.
High-performance Quenching Oil Types
While it’s difficult to decide which oil quenchant to buy, it’s better to be familiar with what to expect in the market. Maybe initially, you knew of one type listed below. Now it’s the time to add a ton of knowledge.
Food-grade Oils
Suggesting food-grade oils as quenchants may sound ridiculous. But get to be aware that they’re applicable in quenching steel. In fact, they are conveniently available in your home pantry. These oils include peanut, vegetable oils, avocado oils, and more.
Vegetable oils include the likes of canola oil, sunflower oil, and olive oil. These oils are eco-friendly and the safest for use. The only shortcoming that comes with them is that they tend to give the steel object minimal hardness compared to the other quenching oils. But it’s a good selection in terms of accessibility and availability.
Motor Oils
Motor oils are widely accessible regardless of your location, being that a large percentage of the world population fancies vehicle use. Whether new or already used in a vehicle, this kind of oil is a cheap form of an oil quenchant. However, used motor oil is cheaper and easier to find.
The ultimate care should be taken when handling this type of oil when quenching your steel article. That said, motor oils are known to release odorous toxins when they come in contact with the steel during the quenching process, which is undeniably a threat to human health.
Mineral Oils
Mineral oils are a better preference to motor oils and food-grade oils. If you want to achieve the quality hardness and a fast-quenching rate, this is the oil type. They do not contain additives, unlike motor oils.
Their high-level efficiency and performance influence the pricing. You’ll discover that they are a bit more expensive despite their ability to cool and harden the steel fast. Also, they are non-biodegradable. There are also commercial oil quenchants that are specifically for quenching but are the most expensive.
Which Is the Best Type of Quenching Oil?
Having mentioned the types of oils used for quenching, none overshadows the other. There is nothing such as a certain type of oil ranked the best.
The type of oil best for use depends on the grade of steel you want to quench. You need to consider the characteristics of the steel under quenching and a whole lot of other factors like the environmental impact of the oil type, the cooling speed, and ultimately your affordability.
Conclusion
The good part about oil quenchants, they try to eliminate the shortcomings posed by the other types of quenchants. For example, water, even with the fastest cooling rate, steel is usually prone to cracks and deformations. All in all, ensure to choose the right type of quenching oil according to the steel grade to be quenched.
I am Luna L. Rusk, a passionate content writer. Always I provide accurate product reviews and information for quicker shopping. I love to cook for my family. In my leisure time, I love spending time with chefs for learning new cooking.