bluing steel with a torch

I wish this article had come out sooner, since I did not know that 0000 steel wool may have oil in it. My apologies for the background noise in the first half of the video We had compressors running where I 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. Apply heat to your object and heat up gently and equally. for 6-8 hours. 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. http://cdn.spectrumbrands.com/~/media/Spectracide/Files/MSDS/SpectracideStumpRemoverGranulesSDSApr15.ashx. Fortunately, this is easily had at any hardware store: WD-40 is a water displacing product, not a lubricant (contrary to widespread advertising). 5. Above you can see some example pictures of the colour shades that can be achieved with this techniques.Have fun doing it! Your container should be relatively larger than your object. SO, DG; unless I missed it, I am assuming the torch is used separate from heating the tank/ container with the boiling solution. this produces better, less turbulant gas flow, which will reduce heat traces. Cold blueing solutions usually just dont wear well. "mainEntityOfPage": "https://shootingmystery.com/blue-stainless-steel-beginners/", Hot bluing should never be attempted on aluminium, as it reacts it usually dissolves in the caustic salt bath. Ventilation is important. 4.3 out of 5 stars 242 ratings-30% $12.99 $ 12. Process that partially protects steel against rust, This article is about the historical uses of black oxide. Copyright 2023 Flixsterz. Besides those, you must also have water displacing oil and cleaning solution (Dicro-Clean 909). Another good test for determining when the steel is ready is seeing if a magnet sticks to its surface. Hes claiming that method is more durable than Blue alone. It greatly helped me to learn how to blue a gun perfectly at home. This article was very, "I've been working with steel since I was a child, and reviewing these proper methods and skills makes my projects, "It surely educated me on several points. Thats how vigorously we de-grease guns before starting blueing. In my case I drilled/threaded the metal piece and made a holder with a threaded end. An ideal temperature is 180 degrees Fahrenheit but it also depends on the manual. "@context": "http://schema.org/", If you are new to the subject and are in need of detailed instructions, then youve come to the right place. I have done a cold blue on a very rusted .22 for a friend. 1/16-inch pivot wire has a circumference of ~0.2in. In the hot salt process, you will need, oh, four to six tanks, only one of which will be the heated blueing salts. Fe3O4 requires chemicals and/or heat to push the iron to full oxidation. For modern uses of black oxide, see, Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "How To Remove Rust From A Gun Without Damaging Bluing? My advice to people here: Unless youre a professional, and youre working in a shop with all the required safety gear (a cold water shower within a couple feet of the tanks, and an eyewash station next to the tanks, and someone working in the same shop every moment youre working on the salt tanks), DONT. A non-linear resistance property of the blued steel of razor blades, foreshadowing the same property later discovered in semiconductor diode junctions, along with the ready availability of blued steel razor blades, led to the use of razor blades as a detector in crystal set AM radios that were built by servicemen (as foxhole radios) or by prisoners of war during World War II.[8]. 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. I can keep a Krylon can always handy for touch-ups. This item: Special Blue Full Metal Butane Torch (Gold) - Refillable Flame Lighter- Culinary Torch - Welding Torch - Adjustable Dual Flame for Desserts, Creme Brulee, BBQ and Baking. Youll have a hot caustic degreaser tank (about 10 minutes), then a cold rinse tank, then into the hot salts for, oh, 15 to 20 minutes, then out into the hot rinse, then into a cold running rinse tank, then into a water displacing oil tank for 20 minutes or so. We have all kinds of rifles and shotguns with recievers made from non-Fe alloys again we do not give it a second though or break out the hardness tester. kitty litter (I would recommend the unused variety). It had been thoroughly degreased before my first attempt, but in trying to repair a poor result, I apparently contaminated it a bit. If you want it smoother/shinier, you can polish up to 600 grit, with wet-or-dry paper. Even a fingerprint will affect the consistency of the colour. The practice of bluing steel takes time and an exquisite eye for detail. ", If you tempered the steel with a blow torch, set the metal on an anvil or another large steel surface to conduct the heat. You can then u. se a soft brush to gently remove all the residue of the cleaning solution on the components. -An old container filled with your chosen degreaser (unleaded petrol), -Your desired polished metal object/s (very important! Dont touch the metal with your bare hands since it could cause severe burns. 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. For this Instructable I'm using thread cutting oil. The only way to do that is to heat it until the metal de-magnetises, quench it again, and then temper to the desired hardness. If your barrel has heavier pitting, now were into filing to remove pitting, and thats something I cant teach people in mere text. Its for mild steel, which must be greased, oiled or otherwise coated with something to stop it from rusting almost immediately. If you do not get crazy and over heat the steel there is no reason to be fearful of the process. "keywords": ["how to blue stainless steel"], You dont want to affect the hardness of your steel in critical areas like actions, bolts, bolt lugs, barrels, chambers, etc. I plan on doing this on a couple of older beaters first. The content is not meant to be a replacement for professional service advice. To harden steel, start by heating the metal directly with a blow torch until it turns a cherry red color. 2. Oil and grease really are the enemy because youre trying to (literally) corrode the metal. Hi SteelJunkee Method is as follows: Fit rod into drill and set at constant speed Clean rods with acetone on clean rag Use butane and propane mix blow torch to achieve colour range Quench in water Dry The weird thing is that they look great for around 4-5 days then deteriorate. Whats the difference between Brown Express and Blue Express? Here is a video by Clevinger Customs illustrating it: I use the Brownells nitre blueing salts, which are a combination of sodium nitrite, sodium nitrate, and potassium nitrate. The difference is immersion in boiling water for bluing. This step should be done before heating the steel, as the steel should be quenched immediately after removing from heat. (And taking, out of *your* hide). 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. They have their place, but doing a whole gun with them isnt that place. 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. I have always wondered about storage in gun soft cases or the foamed Hard cases, and humid or dry, heat and cold. This is not advisable. In colloquial use, thin coatings of black oxide are often termed 'gun bluing', while heavier coatings are termed 'black oxide'. They should send you a stipend for your time. -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. Also, the results you indicate are typical of still having some oil on the gun. Bluing is a process usually used by gun owners and firearms manufacturers to improve the aesthetic value of their weapons. 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. ")You're ABSOLUTELY right. It is usually inadvisable to use cold bluing as a touch-up where friction is present. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Theres a reason I didnt pursue a career in chemistry. At the end of this heating process the crucible is removed from the oven and positioned over a bath of water with air forced through a perforated coil in the bottom of the bath. I've never done anything like this but want to try. Theyll usually go in from the right, and be drifted out from the left (ie, drifting them from left to the right as the muzzle is pointed away from you). Quenched steel is harder, but it becomes more brittle. 2. I ended up with some spots where the browning did not take, and a few dull spots, most of which I was able to buff out with steel wool soaked with gun oil. Even with safety glasses and a full-face shield, a rubber apron, rubber boots, etc it is possible to get salts into your eyes and all over the rest of you. The part that is to race the other is heated normally up to about 220 especially if it is an aluminum casting like a cylinder head. 4 years ago I wouldn't recommend either. 'Browning' is controlled red rust Fe2O3, and is also known as 'pluming' or 'plum brown'. Often it does provide an adequate cosmetic touch-up of a gun's finish when applied and additionally oiled on a regular basis. Christopher Graham writes all the content and reviews on this site with the help of his team of hunters and shooters. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. You turn up your nose at crap guns? Sorry for the misunderstanding. Battery acid is childs play compared to blueing salts. Black oxide provides minimal protection against corrosion, unless also treated with a water-displacing oil to reduce wetting and galvanic action. This process is also the only process safely used to re-blue vintage shotguns. It is vastly appreciated even by those of us who will probably never use it. To remove pitting and keep the barrel profile intact requires skill with a file, and that requires hands-on training. ", informative and did not use technical language and concepts that would have left me floundering and none the wiser. Check out the video:https://hackaday.io/project/21947-makers-vise/log/60914-coloring-steel-with-magnetism. When youre done and have neutralized & washed off the Express Blue #1 solution, you then should spray down the barrel with water-displacing oil. If you cant, just get them out of the case and allow air to circulate around them. }. Just take them from the comments he posts. I use a pickling paste. Also buffing wheels pre blue. You should note that the blue layer is rather delicate so dont treat it roughly. Ive used this method in a pinch to make a tap from a cheap mild steel bolt to chase out galled female threads. Thoroughly degrease the area to be reblued with acetone. 1. polish it very well 2. clean very well 3. quick dip in dilute FeCl (4:1) is what I use 4. rinse in cold running water and pat With HSS you're looking for 2500-3000rpm, M35 or M42 cobalt bits 3000-3600rpm, and carbide 10k-12krpm. Gee, Im thinkin Duro or cero coat maybe even Krylon might be a good enough.. Bluing is also used for providing coloring for steel parts of fine clocks and other fine metalwork. 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 ? "https://twitter.com/Shoot1ngMystery", Its a good process for processing lots of guns, but I simply cannot recommend it for people who just want to do a gun here or a gun there.. I use kerosene to wet my paper from 500 on up. A Pocket Sundial From a Broken Pocket Watch! ", the wrong quality steel. "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). There's also blued hardware available, like nuts, bolts, screws, and hinges. With a simple heating and quenching process, you can make your steel last for much longer! Dont drop or try to bend the steel once its removed. The color is oxide, but I believe you can scrape it off. It is also used by machinists, to protect and beautify tools made for their own use. Friction, as from holster wear, quickly removes cold bluing, and also removes hot bluing, rust, or fume bluing over long periods of use. Safety notes: Dont use an aluminum pan. Robert Farago is the former publisher of The Truth About Guns (TTAG). 2023 All Rights Reserved by Shooting Mystery. They should start gassing up approximately 2 to 3 minutes after exposure. 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. Think big scars. Once you get the colour you want, go outside to your oil container and fully quench your object into the oil! I didnt drop outta my mommas womb being able to do this stuff. Hunter holds a BFA in Entertainment Design from the University of Wisconsin - Stout and a Minor in English Writing. This finish allows them to be stored in high-moisture conditions, like sports bags, without rusting. 3 years ago. I pulled the temp off the top of my head. Please be careful with the cold bluing solutions. This crucible was heated to 730C (1,350F) for up to 6hours (the longer the heat was applied the thicker the case hardening). "datePublished": "2022-03-27", Itll take perhaps 20 minutes to really dry down. This will remove all the traces of the bluing solution and other chemicals. You will get it. It, too, must be oiled to provide any significant rust resistance. The tempering reduces the amount of martensite and thus makes the steel softer. Drop a piece of hot charcoal in it and it will burn in the absence of any atmosphere as the nitrate provides the oxygen for the reaction. WebHeat the blade for 15 to 20 minutes in an oven set on 325 Fahrenheit if the handle is metal. The steel will pull some of the carbon out of the oil while quenching and harden the outer portion of the metal. For the final step, we let the components cool down in water displacing oil. - Ballachy", "Bluing of Steel by Heat Treatment: Why and How it Happens? 84 or Du-Lite 3-0. Instead of applying the acid solution directly to the metal parts, the parts are placed in a sealed cabinet with a moisture source, a container of nitric acid and a container of hydrochloric acid. Use a backing block of wood or even a Pink Pearl rubber eraser. Oil binds with the metal and prevent it from getting air/chemicals to corrode. 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. All blued parts still require oiling to prevent rust. Do NOT wipe/touch your metal with anything after degreasing as the whole purpose of cleaning was then for nothing. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/81\/Harden-Steel-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Harden-Steel-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/81\/Harden-Steel-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid1214287-v4-728px-Harden-Steel-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/5b\/Harden-Steel-Step-3-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Harden-Steel-Step-3-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/5b\/Harden-Steel-Step-3-Version-3.jpg\/aid1214287-v4-728px-Harden-Steel-Step-3-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/1a\/Harden-Steel-Step-4-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Harden-Steel-Step-4-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1a\/Harden-Steel-Step-4-Version-3.jpg\/aid1214287-v4-728px-Harden-Steel-Step-4-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/af\/Harden-Steel-Step-6-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Harden-Steel-Step-6-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/af\/Harden-Steel-Step-6-Version-3.jpg\/aid1214287-v4-728px-Harden-Steel-Step-6-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/02\/Harden-Steel-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Harden-Steel-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/02\/Harden-Steel-Step-8.jpg\/aid1214287-v4-728px-Harden-Steel-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/28\/Harden-Steel-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Harden-Steel-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/28\/Harden-Steel-Step-9.jpg\/aid1214287-v4-728px-Harden-Steel-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f2\/Harden-Steel-Step-10.jpg\/v4-460px-Harden-Steel-Step-10.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f2\/Harden-Steel-Step-10.jpg\/aid1214287-v4-728px-Harden-Steel-Step-10.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"