1084...So is canola oil any good , or what??

[A.McPherson]

weo was talking about the importance of doing your HT in a darkened room, so that you can see the colors of the heated steel more accurately (if you're doing it by eye.

Oh he beat me to it... Sorry weo not trying to put words in your mouth.

 

[R.C.Reichert]

I don't think there's any practical reason for trying to orient to magnetic north or anywhere. But the reason for the new moon/dark forge was so that the smith could see the phase transformation (decalecence or recalecence) and then know when to quench.

I keep my forge area dark when I am doing heat treating and I think most who heat treat with a forge do the same. Just allows me to see the color of the steel better.

 

[weo]

I keep my forge area dark when I am doing heat treating

Excellent!

and I think most who heat treat with a forge do the same

I'm not as confident about this, which is why I felt the need to explain.

Sorry weo

Nothing to apologize for, A.McPherson (many times other people say things better than I do), but thanks.