Abstract: Salt bath techniques are used to heat treat and quench a metal component. The component is first heated to the required heat treatment temperature while disposed within a sealed, first salt bath. Then, while still within the first salt bath, the component is quenched into a second salt bath. Heat is rapidly and uniformly transferred from the hot, first salt bath to the cool, second salt bath, and from the component to the first salt bath. The uniform rate of heat transfer minimizes any undesired stresses on the component, and permits components having complex geometries to be heat treated and quenched without distortion or cracking.