Quench tank control

David Schott

David Schott

Joined
Sep 27, 2004
Messages
3,041
What do you guys use to monitor the temp of your oil? Im doing the old fashioned put-it-on-the-stove and use a thermometer, then dump in quench tank, carry to forge, and dunk. Obviously stupid, but works.

I envision something I can put in my tank or under it, set to a specific temp, and forget it. Is there anything like that out there that will allow me to set 130 or 140 and hit a button, or something I can make easilly? I dont know why I never got around to making the process easier....
 
TicTock, this sounds kind of primitive and back woods but i use my turkey fryer i have my quench fluid in a 5 gallon steel bucket or empty welding rod cans.Practice first by cooking a couple of turkeys :)
 
I used to have a heater for livestock watering troughs. It's basically a water heater type element on a cord. That should work for you. Just make sure it's always in the oil when it's turned on. :D
 
David, What works for me is a electric hot water heater element and thermostat I have also thought of buying one of those electric hot plates and just sitting a tank on the burner. Once you have it to the right temp just unplug it and turn it on and off that way. Might work but haven't tried that one. but the hot water heater element works just great, keeps it right at 130.

Jerry
 
I use a hotplate and a huge commercial stainless pot. I use a lab thermometer, and I agitate the oil often. I like to make sure it at a stable tempurature before I quench.

I got all the components to make a PID-controlled, recirculating tank, but have not gotten a round tuit yet.

Anyone got some "round tuits" for sale? :D
 
What kind of hotplate you using higgy? I use the 5-gallon bucket my quench oils came in to quench in and want something large enough to heat one of 'em up.
 
I had a quench tank welded 6" wide X 4" deep by 20" long.
I just sit it on top of one of those $20.00 double electric burners you get at Wal Mart. Figure out your settings according to the burner you buy and the temp you need and the volume of oil you have. It only takes about a 1/2 hour to practice with it. I can turn it on about 15 minutes before I need it, go out and it's within a few degrees of EXACTLY where I want it.
The other day I was quenching at 165 degrees. (I use Tex A and an $8.00 digital thermometer that's accurate +or- .1 degree.) Anyway, I went out and the oil was at 167.2 degrees.
I don't know how it can get simpler.
 
Burchtree said:
What kind of hotplate you using higgy? I use the 5-gallon bucket my quench oils came in to quench in and want something large enough to heat one of 'em up.
Click to expand...

Just a cheapo $10 hotplate at the moment, Mike. Lowest setting will heat 5 gallons to about 140 degrees. Takes about 2 hours, but it will hold between 140-150. Good enough for hamon work, which is usually all I do in oil-quenching steels these days. I'm so in love with my quench plates I could give a red rat's-patoot about oil quenching. :D
 
I use mortar cans that hold 5 gallons of oil. I use an electric hotplate ($9.00 at WalMart) and a meat themometer.
Scott
 
Okay, so everyone is basically doing the same type of deal.....I have that paragon coming and I envision a side-by-side setup where the oil maintains itself at my desired temp. I'll do some looking. I bet theres plans somewhere....
 
I use a stainless steel deep well pan, like they use in restaurants. It holds 3+ gallons with room for sloppiness + it has a lid if I have a fire. Made a adjustable quench plate using some sheet aluminium and heat it on a double burner hot plate, with a candy thermometer.

Bill
 
The tutorial on building a controlled quench tank isn't finished yet,but here is an excerpt.The pictures are only of a disassembled unit.There will be lots of photos in the final tutorial on building a 2 gallon and a 10 gallon unit.The ten gallon unit is cooled as well as heated.

Get a 2.5 gallon electric water heater.Cut the top out.Put it back together.Set it to 130F or whatever temp you need.Drop a meat thermometer in the hole you left in the top to monitor the exact temp.
There is a bunch more to do than this simple explanation,but this gives you the gist.
Stacy
 
I just use a amo can on my colman camping stove. Heat it up and quench away :)
 
I quench in a large ammo can, that way i have a tight lid for when its not being used...

To heat i purchased an old electric fry pan from a thrift store, the one with the cord and a peice that plugs into it... The controll has its own thermostat and temperature readings...

Then, took the frypan part and cut off the excess metal around the edges. You can see the element mounted on the bottom of the pan and just DONT cut that part out... Build a little bracket to hang it on the edge of my tank so the controller part is NOT under the oil and turn it up to the temp required... Voila... Works in my brine, water, and oil tanks...

Alan
 
OOO...some good ideas here. I want to build a whole HT center setup. My paragon wil be on a roling metal cart, and I'd love to have my quench tank programmable and located on the same cart for one-stop HT action so I can drink a beer on my porch till the buzzer goes off and quench without leaving my lounge chair, teee-heee!
 
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