color case hardening

[harrington]

Hi there,
I would like to get the fittings on a knife I'm making for a friend color case hardened (the mottled effect you see on some shot guns) and was wondering what type of steel to use.
Can I use mild steel like in re-bar. I'd hate to go to all the trouble of making the fittings only to not be able to get the desired affect.

Jamie.

 

[mete]

Type of steel is not that critical.My rifle is made of 8620, but plain carbon works too.

 

[harrington]

Thanks Mete.
Would the case hardening give some stain resistance to carbon steel or mild steel?

 

[Bill Burke]

Thanks Mete.
Would the case hardening give some stain resistance to carbon steel or mild steel?

Possibly a minute amount but, I would consider a color case hardened part the same as any other hardened carbon steel part. In color case hardening all you are doing is making a hard thin shell around part. the colors that you see ar a result of oxide layers left on the surface from the quench.

 

[Ken Hurst]

CC will not do anything but leave the parts with a case thickness & soft core. The depth of the cae varies depending on how long the part is kept in the oven & temp held while part cooks. My recommandation for CC is John Gillete of "Classic Guns Inc." in Crete. Ill. He has been doing my work for about 10 years now With no problems ----- such as warpage, great dimentional change of openings in metal, poor color development. John has about 40 years experience & knows what he is doing ! Ken

 

[navydiver47]

I would like to know if anyone could help me locate a color case hardening school in massacusetts? Thanks