Apropos of the Acier Hercule Trempe and a recent thread where some novel treatment is mentioned, I would like to somewhat clarify what the Trempe
on the Idal barrels means: The barrels were heated red hot, then submerged into water at 7C and after that the interior was sprayed with a powerful
jet of ice cold water to even inside and outside temperatures. This may be easy to do in this day and age but required special efforts from the old mills.
This tempering gave the barrels their final quality.

JC

Last edited by JayCee; 06/17/11 11:55 AM.
"...it is always advisable to perceive clearly our ignorance." Charles Darwin