[WBE]

Running water over the blade between tempers does no harm what so ever, and does nothing more than cool it off. It also helps to convert any retained austenite, and when doing a double temper, it allows the blade to be put right back into the oven. Just what did you think the water does to the steel? That machinists guide might serve better to light your forge, or fire place. I think it was written in the 20's, and much better info has been discovered since. As far as soak time with 01, it is not done in order to get an even heat through out, but to allow time for the alloys to dissolve into an homogenous solution, and disperse evenly. It does not matter the thickness, 01 needs at least 15 minutes of soak time once the oven levels off. For temper heats with 01, 400? to no more than 425?, should produce 59/61 Rc, with 61 being about perfect for the ideal balance between hard and tough. 01 is not like common simple steels, in that tempering any higher than 425?, only lessens the abrasion resistance and edge retention, with very little measurable change in toughness.