Abstract: A method and apparatus for the induction heating of a metallic material comprising the steps of forming the material into a desired shape, passing the formed material in heat exchange relationship with an induction heating means, passing the heated material directly from the induction heating means into the reaction chamber of a cooling shroud at a temperature above its lowest reaction temperature, delivering hydrogen gas and an inert gas into the reaction chamber of the cooling shroud to expose the material entering the reaction chamber to this gas mixture so as to reduce the surface oxidation on the material, cooling the material in the reaction chamber while exposing the surface thereof to the inert gas, and passing the material from the cooling shroud at a reduced temperature which is less than the reaction temperature of the material whereby the formation of heavy surface oxides is eliminated and the material has a workable hardness.