what is the dreaded ping? I have heard of it, but I have not heard what it is.
so, could some one please explane?

thanks,
Joe

Hardened blade cracking, usually prior to tempering, often during the quench.

is there a good way to avoid this, or is it just a chance thing?

The risk of cracking in heat treating is minimized by doing it properly ; the right times , the right temperatures , the right quench etc. Each steel has it's own characteristics and should be heat treated for that particular steel.

More like a muted "Tink," in my experience... generally followed by something sounding like "MuthaF^&%($#&^^(*%^%^&!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Often the blade will fly across the room, seemingly of its own accord, followed by your tongs. Be careful, your toe might accidentally hit the anvil, or some other suitably hard, heavy object. If this happens you will hear more of the "FRICKE%^&&^*%&^%%^!!!!!!!!!!!!" and your neighbors will call the police.

Not that it happens *a lot* mind you.

The loudest sound in the world of knife making .
Its that sound that reminds you they are no short cuts .
The best teacher that you will ever have the( tink )never lies its profound truth
the steels way of telling you try again .and short knives are ok too.
And if you ever hear it , it’s a sound that you will remember forever .
Lots of thing can cause this sound ,blade to hot , large stress in the steel , friends clicking a peace of steel against the quench tank just as you remove it ,

Bowie !2 days Damascus free

Quote: "friends clicking a peace of steel against the quench tank just as you remove it "

hee hee, you ain't right Ron.

I always thought of it more as a "tink". ;) When you quench a Japanese blade, it'll scream, growl and hiss at you, but that's ok. It's that faint little "tink" you hear as the metal stretches beyond it's limit and tears as a crack that sends tears to your eyes. It's like cheers with wine glasses...but in a whisperted voice. Almost like the steel is celebrating "Oh yeah...we screwed up his day!". :lol

thanks for the help.
Its almost enough to scare me into not HTing my blades because I would not want to wreck all that work, but then the work would be wasted if I did not HT. :lol
oh well, I supose the only thing I can to is try.

one more question, if the steel cracks, is there any thing you can do with it?
thanks

Not unless you make damascus out of it.