Is Boiled Water Rust Conversion Safe for Color Case Hardened Parts

sabre76 · August 20, 2021, 03:06 PM

Hi all,

I did a quick search and didn’t see the answer so apologies if this question was already answered. Will boiling color case hardened parts in water damage the color case finish? I need to convert some rust from a long neglected Stevens .410 94C and want to boil them, card them, and then immerse them in oil but won’t do it if it might damage the CCH. Views?

Scorch · August 20, 2021, 04:38 PM

it will probably grey it out a bit.

RickB · August 21, 2021, 03:00 PM

Colt put(s) a clear lacquer or varnish over the casehardening, but don't if other companies did so.

**Unclenick** · August 21, 2021, 03:19 PM

Since boiling in water converts one kind of oxide (red rust, Fe2O3) to another (magnetite, Fe3O4)), and since the colors on color case-hardened steel are comprised of oxides, I would not want to try this without testing it on a color case-hardened piece of test steel first. That said, I don't really expect to see a change in heat-formed oxides, but am just being cautious. Now, carding is another matter. Carding could, indeed, go right through the coloring oxides and remove them.

August 20, 2021, 03:06 PM	#1
sabre76 Junior Member Join Date: October 6, 2015 Posts: 2	Is Boiled Water Rust Conversion Safe for Color Case Hardened Parts Hi all, I did a quick search and didn’t see the answer so apologies if this question was already answered. Will boiling color case hardened parts in water damage the color case finish? I need to convert some rust from a long neglected Stevens .410 94C and want to boil them, card them, and then immerse them in oil but won’t do it if it might damage the CCH. Views?

August 20, 2021, 04:38 PM	#2
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	it will probably grey it out a bit. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

August 21, 2021, 03:00 PM	#3
RickB Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2000 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 8,518	Colt put(s) a clear lacquer or varnish over the casehardening, but don't if other companies did so. __________________ Runs off at the mouth about anything 1911 related on this site and half the time is flat out wrong.

August 21, 2021, 03:19 PM	#4
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,061	Since boiling in water converts one kind of oxide (red rust, Fe2O3) to another (magnetite, Fe3O4)), and since the colors on color case-hardened steel are comprised of oxides, I would not want to try this without testing it on a color case-hardened piece of test steel first. That said, I don't really expect to see a change in heat-formed oxides, but am just being cautious. Now, carding is another matter. Carding could, indeed, go right through the coloring oxides and remove them. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle