For the process your metal should be nicely polished for the best results.The more shinier the polish the more your end result will glow. Fe3O4 requires chemicals and/or heat to push the iron to full oxidation. And then there is the difference between general care and storage vs available daily carried protection pistols living in a some sort of Holster (nylon or leather) , good, bad, take them out or leave them in? Usually they would pack the parts in crucibles and surround them with leather, wood, coal,bone etcThey would heat them up to 1200F to 1500F and hold them at this temp. Bluing (steel) - Wikipedia The use of stainless steel alloy varies a lot from one manufacturer to the other and thats why the bluing effect wont always be consistent. It is caused by a layer of oxide that forms when the steel is heated. How to remove discoloration from heat? - Forums - Miller Welding Higher carbon contents will take longer to heat. It had been thoroughly degreased before my first attempt, but in trying to repair a poor result, I apparently contaminated it a bit. Ive hot salt blued guns in a shop with the proper equipment and you can shove a river of iron through a single hot salt tank in an afternoon. "Rust bluing" and "fume bluing" provide the best rust and corrosion resistance as the process continually converts any metal that is capable of rusting into magnetite (Fe3O4). This will remove all the traces of the bluing solution and other chemicals. You might also want to read our article on how to easily darken stainless steel or blacken stainless steel for more ways to personalize your gear. Degrease and heat the items to be blued in a steel pan to about 700F. Rust bluing is also used on shotgun barrels that are soldered to the rib between the barrels, as hot bluing solutions melt the solder during the bluing process. I like 1.5 wide shop cloth myself). For the final step, we let the components cool down in water displacing oil. Submerge in water and scrape edge. Bluing also helps to maintain the metal finish by resisting superficial scratching, and also helps to reduce glare to the eyes of the shooter when looking down the barrel of the gun. Heat the Steel. 4 years ago Brownells has a product that will strip blueing and rust (Fe3O4 and Fe3O2, respectively) and not corrode the underlying steel.Remove the barrel & action from the stock. Frequent TTAG commenter Dyspeptic Gunsmith saw the gun above in our postA Garden Gun Cultivates a Newfound Fascinationand answered reader questions about blueing/reblueing a gun thusly: If the rust is very fine and there is still substantial blueing left on the gun, you might want to strip the blueing. Hot blueing is a good process, especially if you have a lot of iron to shove through the blueing process quickly. This is one of the reasons rust and fume bluing are generally more rust-resistant than other methods. Thank you so much for sharing such a great article. Cold blueing is OK for touchups, at best. The part you want to place in the receiving part is cold often just placed in a freezer for a few hours. Colour case hardening occurs when soft steels were packed in a reasonably airtight crucible in a mixture of charred leather, bone charcoal and wood charcoal. Heating it again to a lower temperature will not introduce additional martensite. To obtain oil-free steel wool, get some acetone in a container (say, an old, clean yogurt container you were going to throw away anyway). The mixed fumes of the acids produce a uniform rust on the surface of the parts (inside and out) in about 12 hours. Next wash your piece in your chosen degreaser for a minute or so to get rid of all grease/fingerprints that was on the metal. If you need to use a blow torch, focus the flame tip on the area you want hardened. Then you pull it out and scrape off the oil along the blade edge. NaOH will quickly and completely dissolve aluminum. It is always essential to remove all oils from metals you want to blue, even if the cold blueing solution claims you dont need to do so. Heat source You will require at least one burner for bluing salts and two hot water burners. I've never done anything like this but want to try. You will get it. I wish I had known more about the process, heating (I was working outside on a 60 degree day) I may have to check with my friend to see if it needs reblued again, Im sure he never shot it. You want 0000 steel wool for carding between coats. Fill a heat-safe container with water or oil deep enough to submerge your steel. just fyi, the old school method of case hardening steel is to get the piece so hot that a magnet will no longet stick to it and quickly quench it in used motor oil. Thanks a lot for sharing. you could also heat this size tank with anything from a hibatchi up to a Weber charcoal grill or you could put it on top of a wood-burning stove or even a kitchen stove. this article statement I use a pickling paste. I heat treated a piece of carbon steel to make it less likely to wear (using its edge as a cutting surface in a wood turning application). Rust bluing was developed between hot and cold bluing processes, and was originally used by gunsmiths in the 19th century to blue firearms prior to the development of hot bluing processes. If you want it smoother/shinier, you can polish up to 600 grit, with wet-or-dry paper. How to Blue Stainless Steel in 5 Easy Steps: Complete Guide 5 years ago, I found that heating will turn steel silver ~> gold ~> violet ~> blue. Make sure the piece is chemically clean, sandblasting followed by power wire brushing is good then stop heating when you hit purple because the heat will travel. WebThe gun bluing process Start with 1 gallon of water and add it to a deep fryer that has been thoroughly cleaned. -A heat source. Heat the gun parts. Most knives, rifle receivers and barrels are heated to at least 1200F and cooled and drawn at 490F-700F. Ships from and sold by Direct-Wholesale. I agree used oil works better and adding some copper and graphite seems to deepen the color and add more purple or plum to it. Youre a gunsmith who has a lot of nice guns! very easy way to get a blue finish on steel - Fit and Finish Hardened steel prevents knife blades from dulling and tools from bending and breaking. Ive learned a LOT. DIY Gun Bluing ", https://mgs.edu/making-chisels-skips-newsletter/, http://www.technologystudent.com/equip1/heat1.htm. 'Browning' is controlled red rust Fe2O3, and is also known as 'pluming' or 'plum brown'. One can generally use the same solution to brown as to blue. These work by depositing a coating of copper selenide on the surface. Use a smaller toaster oven if your piece of steel fits inside. "height": "800", (meaning oxygen atoms are able to attach themselves to the outer layer of the steel)We did this with an electromagnet! 4 Ways to Blue Steel - wikiHow Ferrari installs valve seats in their aluminum cylinder heads via robot. Dont drop or try to bend the steel once its removed. If youre interested, just ask and I can provide more details. He started the site to explore the ethics, morality, business, politics, culture, technology, practice, strategy, dangers and fun of guns. Thank you all who had a part in the production of this important information! I now want to reverse the process so I can drill and tap the metal tip. Historically, razor blades were often blued steel. ")You're ABSOLUTELY right. Color case hardening is the predecessor of all metal coloring typically employed in the firearms industry. Thanks, 8 years ago By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. occasionally I'll buff it afterwards. Larger flames produce less heat while smaller flames produce a higher heat. 3.3k. gas coverage is another big one. Bluing only works on steel, cast iron, or stainless steel parts for protecting against corrosion because it changes iron into Fe3O4; it does not work on non-ferrous material. The salts will be a gooey caustic mess while theyre cold, and you MUST have covers on the tank when youre not using them, or the salts will climb over the edges of the tank and make a mess on the floor. highfour, case hardening is a bit different from what you describe.. Usually, the steel needs some time in a medium that will allow carbon to penetrate the surface, and we are talking 15 minutes to several hours. Nowadays, even mild steel does have a certain amount of carbon in the alloy, which can explain your observations, if you google "super quench," you should find a waterbased quench that is rumoured to do the same, but in my humble opinion, water can do just that as well. Ok you gotta help me out herewhen I was studying mechanical engineering a good few years back a project I done involved using a compression fit of 1/4" thick plate steel into 1" thick steel rod, both mild steel. However, oil may spill and create a fire hazard if the steel is put into the oil too quickly. So you will get a shinier finish. Once you get the colour you want, go outside to your oil container and fully quench your object into the oil! Knowledge is the power and fear is the opposite of power it cripples the mind and the body and almost always guarantee's a poor decision will be made. I have done a cold blue on a very rusted .22 for a friend. Theres nothing I see as super-dangerous about blueing other than trying to do hot salt blueing without all the correct safety equipment and precautions. References Red rust is Fe2O3, and is incomplete rust it will continue allowing the surface to corrode over time hence the oil or wax. It is not nice stuff. This is not advisable. Question Think big scars. Blue Metal Shell 13 in 1 Welding Torch Nozzle Tip Cleaner For Welder Soldering. Heating up a tank on the kitchen stove. My first time wasnt a stunning success. I can then get the temp to be 600F spot-on in a lead melting pot. Take them out after a couple of minutes and then wipe them clean to remove excess oil. This article received 28 testimonials and 92% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Excessive buffing on stainless steel could result in a grainy appearance so do it with care. Drift the sights back in from the right side of the barrel. I handed a buddy my wallet and cell phone, and stepped under the safety shower and got wet. ], Oil and grease really are the enemy because youre trying to (literally) corrode the metal. I have always wondered about storage in gun soft cases or the foamed Hard cases, and humid or dry, heat and cold. Can a softly tempered piece be re-tempered harder without going through the hardening procedure again? Often it does provide an adequate cosmetic touch-up of a gun's finish when applied and additionally oiled on a regular basis. Examples of this finish are common on older pocket watches whose hands exhibit what is called 'peacock blue', a rich iridescent blue. You can use a heat gun, a blow dryer, or a torch for this. Although the steel parts, such as anOrdains watch hands, are near enough miniscule, each Contemporary heat-treatable steels did not exist or were in their infancy. 3D Printed Futuristic Space Age Wall Clock. Brilliant blues. He has more than three years of experience writing for and working with wikiHow. That means 50-60 revolutions to make a foot. Note that it has to be a different tank from the one you used for Step 2. Blue Bluing Steel I plan on doing this on a couple of older beaters first. ", Do NOT wipe/touch your metal with anything after degreasing as the whole purpose of cleaning was then for nothing. In colloquial use, thin coatings of black oxide are often termed 'gun bluing', while heavier coatings are termed 'black oxide'. [ How to Blue (Bluing) Steel Using Oven Or Torch and Oil Right now I'm working on excavator replacement pins! There are many methods you can use to blue the steel. WHERE or when would the torch get used? Im asking because theres a guy on YouTube recommending Brown Express first, then several layers of Blue over that. Referring to the post that started all of this; Dyspeptic Gunsmith says: If cold bluing is the only practical option, the area should be kept oiled to extend the life of the coating as much as possible. Spilling salts at this temperature will instantly result in fire, because the KNO3 is a powerful oxidizer all on its own, and the added thermal energy will light anything on fire all alone. Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter. "keywords": ["how to blue stainless steel"], Fume bluing is another process similar to rust bluing. You need to adjust the boiling point of the salts for your altitude. blue steel Heating white, degreased steel to 550 to 600F results in brilliant colors. This is often achieved without chemicals by simply heating the steel until a blue oxide film appears. Hot NaOH is so alkaline it is great as dissolving organic materials. These minerals (often calcium and magnesium compounds) tend to result in blotchy and uneven results. You can make a Caustic Soda KNO3 water bath: 65% Lye (aka sodium hydroxide) This is a great time to point out that leaving guns in gun cases, especially the woolen/fleece cases, in the back of a closet, is one of the most sure-fire ways to rust the value completely out of a gun. Below is a link to a video I found on YouTube that shows the process. 3 years ago It can soften up some paints and plastics. They should send you a stipend for your time. "Bluing" is the process of oxidizing steel to create a durable, corrosion-resistant layer. I just had my first experience rust browning a barrel. Degrease a pad of 0000 steel wool with acetone. Repeat 3 times. However, due to the unique qualities of stainless steel, you cant simply blue the material however way you like. By the time I was done it looked like it was a beat up 5 year old gun rather than a 1930s bolt .22 that came from a scrap yard. So As one newish to refined firearms ownership, what is the best way to store and protect a pistol or rifle from rusting, especially in areas like Oregon or Washington, Silicon socks, or ? But the article was very informative. Many older browning and bluing formulas are based on corrosive solutions (necessary to cause metal to rust), and often contain cyanide or mercury salts solutions that are especially toxic to humans. Every true outdoorsmans dream! Thats how vigorously we de-grease guns before starting blueing. I'm trying to be positive and constructive, and think this is: for an amateur to stick a very hot torch-heated metal object into a plastic container filled with oil is simply dumb (ok, more polite: "irresponsible") at best, highly dangerous at worst. If you dont drain the barrel or action recesses properly before putting a barrel or action into a hot salt tank, then you will find out in a hell of a hurry as the water flashes to steam under the surface and again, splatters hot, highly caustic lye/nitrite salts all over you and your shop. Bluing - Finishes for Metal - I Forge Iron DG thank you. In place of using a hot bath (although at a lower temperature) chemically induced method, it is possible through controlling the temperature to heat steel precisely such as to cause the formation of black oxide selectively over the red oxide. You can blue heat-treated parts with no ill effects. In comparison, rust, the red oxide of iron (Fe2O3), undergoes an extremely large volume change upon hydration; as a result, the oxide easily flakes off, causing the typical reddish rusting away of iron. "dateModified": "2022-03-27", An iron wire, stainless dipper, and part basket are required to handle the guns components and adjust the bluing solution as well. When youre using polishing paper, you think that 600 grit is very fine, and it is taking you hours to polish out something to 600. I think DGs method is a lot safer than mine. Different colors can be achieved through variations of this method including quenching in oil instead of water. Then you sight down the barrel and you see dips and waves in the barrel profile. After spending most of his career as a firearms expert and enthusiast, he retreated to the great outdoors to raise his family in peace and quiet. The "turning blue" process has nothing to do with hardening of the steel, or its compression. Enjoy! Before operating your torch, read all instructions so you know how to handle it safely. Could I use stainless steel earrings that I have got? Ive gotten hot blue salts on me splashed into my hair. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Free shipping for many products! And I work alone in my shop, and lack the required (IMO) safety facilities that are needed. To remove pitting and keep the barrel profile intact requires skill with a file, and that requires hands-on training. Both refer to the same chemical process for providing true gun bluing.[1]. There can be different layers you have to apply. 35% Potassium nitrate (aka saltpeter), http://castboolits.gunloads.com/archive/index.php/t-36054.html. I dont use hot salt blueing because much of my work is on older double guns, which have ribs that are soft-soldered into place. Once you strip the blue & rust, then you can see what youre dealing with. Bluing is a passivation process in which steel is partially protected against rust using a black oxide coating. It would be a good idea to get some gloves on. And for the next (after the next) installment, how to do hard case coloring. } How to Hot Blue Steel with a Torch- A Step-by-Step Guide I guess Ill have to just be happy drying toilet paper. When you add water to a hot salt tank, you get an explosion of steam, and you need to develop some skill in adding the water with a very fine copper pipe on your water hose to prevent steam blow-outs spattering salts all over you. Bluing Add 5 lbs of regular table salt to the water. Very true. However, if the bluing effect isnt satisfactory, then you can try giving the components an acid bath (using Hydrochloric Acid). It is one smoooooth profile, from one end to the other. Wear safety glasses and gloves while working with hot metal. You can then u. se a soft brush to gently remove all the residue of the cleaning solution on the components. That way, you can still use your oven for the rest of the evening. Central Texas. There are many simple ways to achieve good bluing. Battery acid is childs play compared to blueing salts. Heat the area with a torch until it stops sweating. Just dont do it. 8 years ago Cooking off the more volatile hydrocarbons leaving the heavier ones produces a different effect yet again. Trust me, I'm speaking from experience :) ). Remember the oil is probably gonna release some smoke/fumes once the piece is quenched so as said before: please do this step in a well ventilated area. Dont leave cold blue solutions around anywhere pets or kids could get at them. Oh mas oui.Express blueing, slow rust blueing, hot salt blueing, nitre blueing, carbona blueing all are better than cold blueing. Various processes are used for the oxidizing process. In fact most guides no matter their material cast iron to bronze and often bearing races are installed the same way. "I am nearly 16 and can not wait until I have my drivers license. The hot washing soda tank typically used in gunsmith shops is caustic washing soda, and if you leave the gun in long enough, youll start to see corrosion on the gun before you get to the blueing step. 5. Above you can see some example pictures of the colour shades that can be achieved with this techniques.Have fun doing it! "publisher": { Use a steel tool to stir (remember the fumes). Youre just using stump remover to do it. OK, Buffing wheels, which Im making their own break-out response from the blueing salt issue: Buffing wheels are useful things in a gun shop. It's easy to get it too hot, too quickly - especially with an O/A or oxy-propane torch. Then, you can put the components back into the bluing tank and increase the temperature until you see the blued steel. The downsides are: the safety issue, which I laid out above, and which youve made clear. You have to apply the bluing fluid. Shooting Mystery is reader-supported. Are you sure you want to heat the steel to 700F in that early step? Step 3: Suspend the components in the bluing solution tank, However, if the bluing effect isnt satisfactory, then you can try giving the components an acid bath (using, Step 4: Rinse the components in a cold water tank then transfer them to a hot one, Step 5: Submerge the components in a tank filled with water displacing oil, Address: 4455 Camp Bowie Blvd, Ste 114 #852, Fort Worth, TX 76107. All those materials the leather and bone the coal where sources of carbon and other trace elements. The parts are then boiled in distilled water, blown dry, then carded, as with rust bluing. This article has been viewed 914,567 times. 3 years ago. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Keep a grade B fire extinguisher nearby in case of a fire. Metal Finishing Guru. The blueing salt bath will be at about 286 to 292F, and as it is bubbling away, it is losing water, and the boiling point of the solution keeps climbing. This step should be done before heating the steel, as the steel should be quenched immediately after removing from heat. At 700, you start losing your blues and the steel starts becoming a wispy silvery-blue, not a dark brilliant blue.
Gus Arrendale Age,
Carlsbad Unified Salary Schedule,
Maggie Malone Producer,
Airbnb With Private Hot Springs,
Duck Hunter Game Projector,
Articles B
