Hey guys I am trying to get started making knives from files, or maybe some 1095 high carbon or 5160 knife blanks, Which do I quench in oil and which do I quench in water? What about a file I cannot identify the steel? what do I quench that in?

Chris, it depends on who you talk to!  Some quench either steel in H2O, or brine - water with enough salt added to float an egg.

To be safe I would say heated oil!

Steve
--------
Potomac Forge

what do you considered heated? for the oil

I would recommend about 120 degree oil, get the blade down to about the same temp as the oil, then immediately put it in the oven to temper. I usually temper most of my knives to 400 degrees, If they are going to be a large chopper or take a ton of abuse you might want to go a little hotter on the temper.

If the files are standard machine or hand files made by Nicholson, Simmonds, or Hammond, they are 1095.  I checked with the engineers at the companies.  Heated oil is a great quench for 1095.  I like to heat mine to 130 degrees prior to quenching the blade.

How do you guys suggest heating the oil up to 120-130 degrees? Since this is my first try im just using a made in china file, and using the belt sander to shape it right now. This file still has the carbon *stars* that come off nicholson files or any other files when you put them to the belt sander. so it cant be too bad of steel.

I agree with the rest oil quench have not heard of files being made of 5160 but it is an oil quencher too,sounds like Ragnarok forge knows the files are made of 1095.You can heat your oil by heating a spare piece of metal and dip it in the oil till you get the temperture you want,if you haven't done oil quench before make sure you have a lid that will seal your oil container enough to put out a fire if it flares up, if it does don't freak out and nock your oil over just slowly put the blade down in the oil and cover with lid.