Why do so many new smiths quench 1084 in water and wreck their first blade?

I keep seeing guys on Facebook groups dunk 1084 in water because some old book says so, then act shocked when it cracks. I ruined 3 blades that way last spring before switching to warm canola oil, and every blade since has come out straight with no cracks. If you are just starting, what made you pick your quench medium?

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wells.reese8d ago

some old book says so" is the whole problem. Water is for people who already know what they're doing. New guys should just grab a jug of canola and heat it a bit.

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