4
Took me 3 years to realize I was hammering wet steel
I kept getting these tiny cracks near the edges of my blades and couldn't figure out why. Then a guy at a hammer-in in Oregon pointed out my steel was still wet from the quench when I went back to the anvil. Has anyone else dealt with moisture causing hidden fractures?
2 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In2 Comments
brown.susan12d ago
The moisture might not be the real issue here - plenty of smiths work with damp steel without problems. Those cracks could just as easily be from rushing your hammer blows or not keeping the steel at a consistent heat. Your mileage may vary, but I've seen more blades ruined by bad technique than by a little leftover water on the surface.
5
grant.kevin11d ago
Honestly, that "your mileage may vary" part really hits home. I appreciate you saying this, it's easy to blame one thing when the real problem is usually a bunch of small mistakes adding up.
0