doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Color Case Hardening - 2

Hi guys, thought I'd share my learning with everyone. I've not setup my color case hardening facility...still practicing and will put some pictures up of my first test attempt soon!

http://www.vintageshotgun.com/

Regards,
TT

Hi folks, after a couple of tests I decided to case colour harden the first part of my Greener. I'm quite happy with it and it's not too harsh. Pictures below and more on my blog.







It's one of those things you just have to try and experiment with. I plan to do the hammers and sidelock plates next.

If you are interested and want to see more the blog has more and the pictures are bigger there.

Regards,
T

Nice Tony,


Good colors and does not look 'gaudy' as so many do......I personally like the grays and blues....a little straw is good sometimes....

2 to 1 B-C..?.......

Best,

Hi Doug, I think it was about 50/50 but I'll double check and come back to you. I actually think it's quite nice and kind of closer to what it might have looked like...I've asked Michael Greener for his view.

Regards,
T

Tony:

I have been quenching in very pure rain water and found it the best for colours....the quench tank I built has a PVC pipe aerator in the bottom with multiple holes that supplies lots of O2.......which is critical as you know.....

I have a holding tank that collects rain water for just that purpose.....

Yes, Tony, your colours do look more original than most, again, very nice indeed.....

As you know, each effort is like a "snowflake", no two are alike......and they look very different in different light....

Here's an old Marlin & LC Smith I did, Marlin made in 1895.....38-55......five or so years ago on these two......




12 Ga LC Smith 1926 .......



Best,

Doug they loook superb!! Rainwater, interesting, we have a water butt on the end of the house, will refill with this water. Did you chill the water too? When you airate how fine are the bubbles? I just shove the end of the hose of a hobby compressor at the bottom of the quench barrel..

T

Tony:

No, I do not chill the water, outside air temperature is fine....

I drilled the PVC pipe with lots of small holes and placed it lengthwise in the tank so all the bottom area is covered with lot's of very fine bubbles, it has a vertical stand pipe with an elbow and the compressor fitting on that elbow.......has worked quite well for years....

Played with different combinations of B-C and other additions, times, temps, etc., just to experiment with different colours........lot's of fun as you have found out.......

I don't spray clear lacquer on them, as I think it looks tacky...JMO.......and it also yellows later and really looks nasty.........

Here's a couple more different ones Tony.......



Best,

You are good, real good, both of you.
With kind regards,
Jani

In Birmingham many years back there was a place that did the best colour case hardening, outside of the workshop was a large water trough that was also used by the workers to pee in some say this helped the colour!! worth a try I have the old Johnsons formula for colour hardening I will see if I can dig it out

**Thank You Jani............

**Barrel Browner, I would like to see the old Johnson's formula if you dig it out sometime, thank you.......may try the pee thing, then again, maybe not....?......Send a PM if you would like, thank you........


Best Regards,