Appreciation post: My mentor told me to always quench my hot cut tool in used motor oil, not water

I thought it was just an old superstition, but after snapping three tools trying water, I switched to a bucket of 10W-30 and haven't had a single crack since. Anyone have a different quench medium they swear by for tool steel?

3 comments

3 Comments

grant.kevin9d ago

Used motor oil? That's a new one. Guess it works if you're not snapping tools anymore.

-1

nancy39d ago

Right? It sounds weird but it really does the trick. I've used it on rusty bolts for years and it never lets me down. Just a cheap fix that works.

rowanp156h ago

Actually works great for freeing up seized tools too, not just bolts.