bluing steel with a torch

"@type": "ImageObject", It is usually sold in a 1lb bottle for $3, you'll need 3 or 4 pounds probably. (And taking, out of *your* hide). Ships from and sold by Direct-Wholesale. Are you sure you want to heat the steel to 700F in that early step? Also Dont get the 275-300F bath on you. gas coverage is another big one. Its a good process, but it isnt a 1:1 replacement for blueing. Once you strip the blue & rust, then you can see what youre dealing with. you may benefit from the use of a gas lense as well. That doesnt happen easily or by accident. Keep a fire extinguisher near your workstation in case of a fire. the cost of the burners or heaters to heat up all these tanks really only practical if you have natural gas available No one can even tell you what the heat treat is on a 1895 Mauser for instance yet we do not wet ourselves before we shoot one! It is usually inadvisable to use cold bluing as a touch-up where friction is present. I can see my wife walking in and shaking her headabout as vigorously as when I asked if I could use the dishwasher to clean some tools. Thats one way to get dyspeptic to write articles! 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. In the hot salt process, you will need, oh, four to six tanks, only one of which will be the heated blueing salts. Ill be buying the stainless tubs and chemicals to do it and go for as close to black as I can get. The color is oxide, but I believe you can scrape it off. Its easy enough to color metal with a torch, but it has always been a hit-or-miss process for me, and when it was a big hit, I was rarely able to re-create how it got that way. 84 or Du-Lite 3-0. This method must not be used on critically heat-treated parts such as receivers, slides or springs. Please be careful with the cold bluing solutions. It would be a good idea to get some gloves on. Check out the video:https://hackaday.io/project/21947-makers-vise/log/60914-coloring-steel-with-magnetism. Higher carbon contents will take longer to heat. While I am certain that I could do it myself, you already have all the bits and parts and stuff so it is worth my dollars to buy a gunsmiths time to have this done for me. The practice of bluing steel takes time and an exquisite eye for detail. After that, slowly and steadily stir the solution in, Step 2: Process the components of the gun, Wait for 10 15 minutes and then take out the components. The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. What did you use for polishing your pieces and Im guessing you polished then added the chemicals after?Thanks, Joe, Question Here is a simple way to get a blued finish on steel. Degrease a pad of 0000 steel wool with acetone. Cold blues will react with steel at room temperature, but you get more aggressive reactions when you heat the gun to, oh, 150 to 200F. You can get a IR non-contact thermometer for less than $20 at Harbor Freight. I use kerosene to wet my paper from 500 on up. I believe the change of color is due to a growing thickness of an oxide layer. The rust then turns to black-blue Fe3O4. 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. The steel was mild steel and had very little carbon content. Ive used this method in a pinch to make a tap from a cheap mild steel bolt to chase out galled female threads. Youll need some shop rolls, ranging from 180 to 400 grit (typical 4-packs are 180, 240, 320 and 400 grit, in 1, 1.5 or 2. Ill be saving this for the future. Examples of this finish are common on older pocket watches whose hands exhibit what is called 'peacock blue', a rich iridescent blue. Its nice when something can be re-used a time or two, especially when used in diversified ways. However, the chemicals from the bluing process can accomplish uneven staining on aluminium and polymer parts. Thanks a lot for sharing. First, let us go through a couple of bluing concepts that you have to know in order to achieve the desired result. I didnt drop outta my mommas womb being able to do this stuff. So basically, youll want the rifle in the vise with the muzzle pointed to your left. journeyman. Free shipping. Historically, razor blades were often blued steel. Turn the heat on and give a good regular stirring until it gets very hot and starts to steam. If you tempered the steel with a blow torch, set the metal on an anvil or another large steel surface to conduct the heat. Should something happen, seek medical help right away. The parts are then oiled and allowed to stand overnight. Spray down the whole barreled action with copious amounts of WD-40, inside and out. To heat this, I use a Coleman camp stove and a 15# jug of LPG gas. 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. If the solution is still boiling vigorously, then you can expect the bluing to happen naturally. 2 years ago Bluing, being a chemical conversion coating, is not as robust against wear and corrosion resistance as plated coatings, and is typically no thicker than 2.5 micrometres (0.0001 inches). Alternatively, You could store them in a hard case (like a pelican with a purge) and throw some desiccant packs in there as well. Some people might not have a tank long enough to contain a barreled action to boil out. Itll evaporate rather rapidly, but still, dont whip it at cars or house finishes. The cross section and size of parts affect the outcome of the finish and time it takes to achieve. -Something to hold your piece with, make sure it's appropriate to hold it with so it doesn't get too hot in your hands. His enthusiasm for handling firearms and hunting gear inspired him to create the Shooting Mystery blog. This finish allows them to be stored in high-moisture conditions, like sports bags, without rusting. Then, use a pair of tongs to carry the steel to a container filled with water or vegetable, and submerge the hot metal in the liquid. So you said the polishing is key for the coloring process. I can keep a Krylon can always handy for touch-ups. *Potassium Nitrate is an oxidizer. this produces better, less turbulant gas flow, which will reduce heat traces. 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. 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. on Step 1. To temper the steel so it isn't brittle, place it in an oven heated to 375 F for 3 hours, and then it let it cool overnight. SO, DG; unless I missed it, I am assuming the torch is used separate from heating the tank/ container with the boiling solution. NaOH will quickly and completely dissolve aluminum. Thank you so much for sharing such a great article. What I forgot to mention in all of this is a detail that seems mundane, but it critically important: Wear cotton gloves. Apply heat to your object and heat up gently and equally. "publisher": { Fortunately, this is easily had at any hardware store: WD-40 is a water displacing product, not a lubricant (contrary to widespread advertising). - Ballachy", "Bluing of Steel by Heat Treatment: Why and How it Happens? Think big scars. 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. In my case I drilled/threaded the metal piece and made a holder with a threaded end. Keep heating the steel until you notice a blue color form on the metal. 3D Printed Futuristic Space Age Wall Clock. Heat source You will require at least one burner for bluing salts and two hot water burners. Never know when it will come in handy. kitty litter (I would recommend the unused variety). 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. The content is not meant to be a replacement for professional service advice. 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. Oil-free steel wool is also sold by woodworking shops. Ventilation is important. "https://theshootingmystery.tumblr.com/", Now, using the information above, you should have little problem bluing your firearms on your own. WebThe gun bluing process Start with 1 gallon of water and add it to a deep fryer that has been thoroughly cleaned. Wait for 10 15 minutes and then take out the components. Hardened steel prevents knife blades from dulling and tools from bending and breaking. This will keep the bluing from adhering to the sharpened edge. I learned something slightly different than what you are teaching and that is I am willing to pay people like you to do this kind of stuff for me. By using our site, you agree to our. Buffing wheels have their purpose, but they take real skill to use without making a mess of guns, starting with the selection of the wheel (theres, oh, at least six types of buffing wheel), choice of type of compound, choice of grit of compound, choice of wheel speed (many buffers have only one speed, and there are some jobs where you really want a 3-phase motor on your buffer with a VFD to adjust the speed down from 1800 or 3600 RPM) and so on. $3.59. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 914,567 times. References For the color change to be uniform you have to remove the grease, oil, paint etc or it looks blotchy. Oh mas oui.Express blueing, slow rust blueing, hot salt blueing, nitre blueing, carbona blueing all are better than cold blueing. Alternitavely you can leave it in the oil bath to stabilize. High temperatures and dangerous chemicals mean that a moment of carelessness can make you pay a heavy price. The reason I ask is that when you heat steel that is in the white to 600F, you get a brilliant blue all on its own. You want to be in the range of 600 to 650F. Last Updated: May 13, 2022 How to Blue (Bluing) Steel Using Oven Or Torch and Oil Method OOMAN 2.28K subscribers Subscribe 872 112K views 4 years ago My apologies for the background Before operating your torch, read all instructions so you know how to handle it safely. There are many methods you can use to blue the steel. They should start gassing up approximately 2 to 3 minutes after exposure. Heating it again to a lower temperature will not introduce additional martensite. YouTube - Nitre bluing a few gun parts. How to Blue Bluing Steel Using Oven Or Torch and Oil Method. If you want to blue something fast I have a cheap hot blue method: Lowes stump remover: If there is any finish left on the metal, it will interfere with the bluing pr Most cold blueing agents contain some selenium dioxide in them to enable to them to react at room temps. How do I harden a steel hammer so that is lasts longer and is more durable? Just dont do it. Not only does it give you an alchemical feeling of satisfactionbut it also gives the metal a finish to stop corrosion. Referring to the post that started all of this; Dyspeptic Gunsmith says: DG thank you. Heating white, degreased steel to 550 to 600F results in brilliant colors. They have their place, but doing a whole gun with them isnt that place. It is slightly caustic, so be careful you dont leave it on the gun for long. Hes claiming that method is more durable than Blue alone. Sorry for the misunderstanding. It provides the stainless steel surface with a layer of protection, giving rust and corrosion resistance while reducing potential glare as well. Just remove the blue/rust, degrease, dry, then blue/card/boil-out/oil/drain. I like parkerization on some of my milsurps. -something to hold your object with i.e. Free shipping for many products! Theres nothing wrong with your method, but is is very hazardous, especially to people who have never done anything like it before. The hotter the steel, the further the oxygen can diffuse through the oxide coating, so the coating builds thicker before it protects the steel from further oxidation. Slow rust blueing can take a week or more to accomplish, but it is a durable blue job like no other. The steel is also used for producing great police flashlights with awesome durability. Dont pour water in to your bath! "@type": "ImageObject", The book claims they used wait for it "boiling gasoline" not making this up to clean them. Do all the prep you would for express or rust blueing, especially degreasing. FigureLLC. 2. 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. I can' BUT like so many power tools on guns, it is possible to create expensive screw-ups to fix on guns with power tools, and buffing wheels are no exception. -An old container filled with your chosen degreaser (unleaded petrol), -Your desired polished metal object/s (very important! 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. Repeat 3 times. The bottom of the crucible is opened allowing the contents to drop into the rapidly bubbling water. Now securely hold your piece with whatever you have chosen. Where/how did you think I got to the point I could make nice guns? If I remember right they then heated them up a bit and applied fish oil orignal and I think latter switching to linseed oil to protect the finish and give it that wet look. NaOH is nasty stuff. I've never done anything like this but want to try. 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). 2023 All Rights Reserved by Shooting Mystery. I thought there was something that could help improve the colors but wasnt sure until I came across this. Heat the gun parts. Please note: As you are working with heat, please be smart, use your common sense, do the bluing process in a well ventilated area and keep a wet towel to hand. You are nitre blueing here. Follow the instructions. It is generally employed on smaller parts such as pins, screws, sights, etc. A few safety items: One can generally use the same solution to brown as to blue. Very true. 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. "headline": "How to Blue Stainless Steel in 5 Easy Steps: Complete Guide", Add the two together and you have what is akin to rocket fuel in your face a way of oxidizing almost any organic material with insufficient water for cooling into a furious flame. You wouldnt need salts. In fact most guides no matter their material cast iron to bronze and often bearing races are installed the same way. Because so many people are trying to do this sort of thing on the cheap, thats when I start thundering in my warnings about safety. Theres a reason why I buy up clapped-out guns and stuff where people look at me with a WTF?! Life is good. 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. If you havent done it before, wait until I mention some items about it. Seriously, this is interesting and thank you for posting it, but I hope to never be in a position where I need to use either of these techniques! That way, you can still use your oven for the rest of the evening. Thanks, 8 years ago Interesting and informative as always.

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