Budget color case hardening

Oliver Sudden · February 13, 2019, 03:44 PM

Did this color case for a buddy. The receiver had worn down to sliver with a few rough edges so only got basic sanding then when into the bone and wood charcoal. Ran the temp to 1450 then reduced it to 1375 for an hour. Tap water quenched in 30 gallon barrel. Came out pretty good for a quick job.

, on Flickr

**Unclenick** · February 15, 2019, 04:09 PM

Oliver Sudden,

Any image much over 1000 pixels wide is hard for some to see on the board, so your post can be underappreciated. I shrank a copy for you and hosted it on the board.

Here are several online picture resizing services (no need to mess with a photo editing program for that function anymore):
http://www.resize-photos.com/
https://resizeimage.net/
http://www.picresize.com/

The work looks nice, especially for a quick approach. I am reminded, though, that P.O. Ackley, who had a degree in metallurgy, said he found in his destructive testing that a lot of re-heat-treated Mausers and other rifle receivers tended to have microscopic cracks that made them weaker than they had been, originally. This was despite the conventional wisdom of his day suggesting the re-heat treatment would correct deficiencies in the original heat treatment. It may not matter at shotgun pressures, but firing a proof load still might be prudent.

luger fan · February 15, 2019, 05:12 PM

Looks professional.

std7mag · February 15, 2019, 08:21 PM

Nice job!

denster · February 15, 2019, 09:29 PM

Did you use an aerated quench?

Oliver Sudden · February 16, 2019, 12:32 AM

Thanks Unclenick for the resizing. The service I used to post the photo does resize but apparently not right for this forum.
Safety is always a consideration so I do anneal then case then draw the metal. When doing unknow alloys low pressure cartridge fire arms is all I do.
The quench is aerated for at least an hour before hand with no extra chemicals added.

**4V50 Gary** · February 16, 2019, 12:57 AM

Looks like what we did in college. Well done. John Seim has a book on color case hardening.

February 15, 2019, 04:09 PM	#2
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,060	Oliver Sudden, Any image much over 1000 pixels wide is hard for some to see on the board, so your post can be underappreciated. I shrank a copy for you and hosted it on the board. Here are several online picture resizing services (no need to mess with a photo editing program for that function anymore): http://www.resize-photos.com/ https://resizeimage.net/ http://www.picresize.com/ The work looks nice, especially for a quick approach. I am reminded, though, that P.O. Ackley, who had a degree in metallurgy, said he found in his destructive testing that a lot of re-heat-treated Mausers and other rifle receivers tended to have microscopic cracks that made them weaker than they had been, originally. This was despite the conventional wisdom of his day suggesting the re-heat treatment would correct deficiencies in the original heat treatment. It may not matter at shotgun pressures, but firing a proof load still might be prudent. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

February 15, 2019, 08:21 PM	#4
std7mag Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2013 Location: Central Taxylvania.. Posts: 3,609	Nice job! __________________ When our own government declares itself as "tyrannical", where does that leave us??!! "Januarary 6th insurrection". Funny, I didn't see a single piece of rope...

February 16, 2019, 12:57 AM	#7
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,831	Looks like what we did in college. Well done. John Seim has a book on color case hardening. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

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February 15, 2019, 05:12 PM	#3
luger fan Senior Member Join Date: March 10, 2018 Posts: 150	Looks professional.

February 15, 2019, 09:29 PM	#5
denster Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 581	Did you use an aerated quench?

February 16, 2019, 12:32 AM	#6
Oliver Sudden Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2017 Location: Colorado Posts: 272	Thanks Unclenick for the resizing. The service I used to post the photo does resize but apparently not right for this forum. Safety is always a consideration so I do anneal then case then draw the metal. When doing unknow alloys low pressure cartridge fire arms is all I do. The quench is aerated for at least an hour before hand with no extra chemicals added.