Case color harding

[Kent Shootwell]

I had to do some case harding at work this week and tried an experiment. Rather then using Casenite in the instructed manner I mixed lump charcoal with it then did the batch in the furnace. The steel is 1018 with no polish or special handleing.

[Professor Marvel]

That looks quite hopeful! any issues with warpage? If you Add small bits of leather and bone to the mix and you will add to the variety of  colorfullness.
yhs
prof marvel

[Kent Shootwell]

The parts were packed flat so when they hit the water most would have landed flat. Warpage is less then .002 in the 2.187" lenght. Edge wise quench would reduce that but the volume of pieces and the intended use dictated quantity rather then care.

[rifle]

What does that mean,"parts were packed flat"? One piece atop the other with no Kasinet/charcoal between the flat pieces?

[Kent Shootwell]

Rifle, The Kasenit was mixed with charcoal then placed in the the crucible about 1/2" deep. Parts were placed flat, six in a layer then about 1/4" of mix placed on top and repeated for ten layers. On top an inch of mix covered them and some charcoal added to fill the crucible.

[Raven]

Actually nice color for no polish
While leather was used in colorcase hardening in the past.. It is a waste fo time to use it now unless you use brain tanned leather (which would be a waste of good leather) or can find horse harness that was made before the current methods used to tan leather were put in to use.
Chemicaly tanned leather will cause problems!

Also a good idea to avoid anything but pure wood charcoal..... barbque charcoal has additives that will cause problems.

Kasinite is a new one for me to get color, but......
Brownells has discontinued it and it was about $10 a pound, their new product is $20 a pound and Bone charcoal is $5 a pound
Seems to me that Bone Charcoal is the way to go from an economic stand point as well as tradition.

Check these links for samples of Bone Colorcase from our shop
http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,30884.0.html
http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,34383.0.html

Raven

[Kent Shootwell]

Yes Raven I've heard of many things from leather to apricot pits to mix with charcoal but never saw the need. I get colors that suit me and I see you get some fine lookin work too. Temperature and quench tank conditions are enough to keep this fellow confused!

[Raven]

Amen I'm with you on that

Raven