Any experience with this? I have messed around some. With a torch its really hard to hit the right temp range. I do like the ability to spot heat to get different colors across the surface. I have thought of building a gas fired oven to be able to bring to a temp and hold it.
I was under the impression that stainless doesn't really blue, especially under heat. Gotta be a high-carbon steel that will rust.
I learned this in the past week studying putter restoration
Bluing is technically the wrong term. Carbon Parts like gun barrels and receivers are blued by a process that oxidizes the surface turning is a dark blue/black that protects the steel but still needs oil added to prevent further rusting. Stainless steel cannot be blued.
What I meant was turning stainless blue with the addition of heat. That is very real and possible. Go to youtube. Depending on the temperature you can get straw, purple, blue. I have messed with it some, was just looking for more insight and maybe a more reliable way to achieve success.
What's the application? If the object is small enough, could you put it in an oven?
mtn said:... putter restoration
That can't be what I think it is.
I have multiple things I could use it on. In this case its golf clubs. The problem with an oven is they don't get hot enough. You need to reach 600 degrees to get blue. That's why I had thought of making my own oven.
There was a guy on YouTube making a clock and he used a container filled with metal shavings I thing and layed it over a burner to make the parts blue
What clubs?
Check golfwrx. But people there have not had as much luck with heat and stainless from what I’ve seen. They usually use torches.
Oh, my grill today said 650. I was making pizza.
Keith Tanner said:mtn said:... putter restoration
That can't be what I think it is.
mtn said:Keith Tanner said:mtn said:... putter restoration
That can't be what I think it is.
Ha! Awesome.
I researched this a bit because I wanted to do something cool to the weighted shift knob I bought. This dude's YouTube vid kinda shows how to do it with a torch:
I haven't tried it yet because I haven't decided what exactly I'm going to do.
I found the information below...
Note the temps are in Celcius (note that might be a mistake, I would need to check another source to confirm)
mtn said:What clubs?
Check golfwrx. But people there have not had as much luck with heat and stainless from what I’ve seen. They usually use torches.
Want to do this to my wedges, but not until I know what I am doing. Based on my googles a torch as a heat source can create some cool effects, but the results are entirely up to the skill of the user. I hadn't thought of my grill, but I don't know if it can maintain 600. If I wanted a consistent color across the entire object an oven sounds like the best choice. I thinks its time to find some scrap parts and experiment.
stafford1500 said:I found the information below...
Note the temps are in Celcius (note that might be a mistake, I would need to check another source to confirm)
Based on my research and experimentation this chart should be in Fahrenheit.
Temp sticks would be a good way to check temperature and consistency across the part, definitely more accurate than an IR temp gun in my experience. They're kind of like a big crayon that melts at a specific temperature. Should be available at a welding supply shop.
I think the grill is a good idea, even my cheap-ass grill can hold 600 degrees no problem (at least according to its thermometer.) I wonder how consistent the distribution of heat would be, though. Maybe add some heat shields? A heat treating oven would probably be ideal for this but I'm sure much more than you want to spend.
The color change desired when working with a torch is by eye and experience. I wouldn't want to mar or add anything to the surface that may change the finished project. This is solely for looks. I think when working with an oven you would set a desired temp, and leave the piece in long enough to reach that temp thoughout the part. That way I'm figuring i could achieve a consistant color across the entire object. When a torch is used the color is rarely uniform across the parts surface because it's near impossible to heat it all to an even temp unless the part is really small like a screw head.
A kiln or heat treat oven would be ideal, but my plan is to spend only my time. I will try my grill first, then I could make an oven from scrap around the shop so that is the route to start.
I have a bunch of stainless steel parts that I've colored with heat, although not intentionally. Turns out that bolting stuff to a turbo makes it hot. :)
I finally got around to watching the clock hand bluing video above. It has some really good info for anybody who is interested.
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