Scrapped a whole aluminum plate last month from that exact sound. 15% stepover saved my next project.

Honestly, that's just part of the job sometimes. At least it was a funny story and not a real emergency.

Forget luck, it's about the steel's actual carbon content. Most 1084 batches run a bit low, acting more like 1075, which can handle water fine. @mary_martin22 has the right idea about shortcuts sometimes working, but this is why. Your water was probably warm from the shop, which also helps. The real fluke was your last three oil quenches maybe being too slow.

My buddy who does low voltage work swears by a specific plastic coat hanger he stole from a hotel. He straightens it out but leaves the hook, says it's perfect for pulling wires through insulation without snagging. He won't use anything else for that job now. It's funny what becomes a go-to tool after one weird success.

My little cousin in Lincoln asked me something similar last year. That kind of straight-faced kid logic really sticks with you. It’s funny how they can make you see your own work in a whole new light.