case coloring....

[olddaddy]

One of the few benefits of insomnia is finding interesting stuff on the internet in the wee hours.......I have been reading up on case coloring and watching some you tube videos.  Pretty cool and apparently simple to do.  My guess is it is harder than it looks, even for an old dog welder/metal fabricator.  Anyone here have any experience with it?  or anyone here who does it as a service?  I really like the look of the case colored receivers I've seen and a Buffalo Classic would really be impressive done up that way.

[jedman]

  I too would like to try case coloring some parts. I have made a parkerizing tank and done dozens of barrels and parts and it was quite simple.  I to was a welder / fabricator at one time and intend to make a crucible that can be reused many times to put the parts in.   I dont have anyway to heat the crucible except a outdoor burn pit where I can burn wood and maybe with the help of a small blower  be able to get it orange/ red hot for long enough to work before quenching.
 For the carbon I was going to try a mix of charcoal, ground up deer antlers, and maybe some leather dust.   To start I have some old shotgun frames that I really cant hurt to bad so if it doesnt color well than I wount be out much as it shouldnt cost much except my time to give it a try.
  For myself I just need to put a higher priority to the project at some point so I will get it done, I always have to many gun related projects going at once and find it hard to complete anything from start to finish before getting involved with something new.
I too would like to hear anyones experience with home case coloring.
   jedman

[quickdtoo]

I would think twice about messing with the BC frame since it's already been heat treated at the factory, reheating it to try for a nicer finish may make it a bomb or just a wall hanger.  Working with a low pressure shotgun cast iron frame would be one thing, but experimenting on a heat treated investment cast alloy steel high pressure frame may not be the best idea without more knowledge of the metal.  H&R will refinish their frames better than new, details below.

Tim

Factory Rebluing: Cost is $45 per frame, Barrel is $35.00,  plus shipping & tax.
SB1's can only be refinished in blue or black oxide
SB2's can be refinished in color cased or the same blue or black oxide as the SB1's
They high polish the frames and pins. This will cover most if not all pitting or other cosmetic issues.
You should send the barrel/barrels in with the frame to be refitted if needed as the process involves high temps and sometimes the barrels do not fit the frame correctly afterward. There is no additional charge for this. Turn around time is about 2 weeks

[olddaddy]

Sorry,  I wasn't intending to color a BC frame, but an SB2.  Your point is well taken however, the SB2 might not be safe to case color as well. I will need to research further before jumping into anything foolish.  My enthusiasm is moderated by thoughtful caution, and good advice.

[quickdtoo]

The BC frame is an SB2 frame same as any other Handi, it just has a fake case coloring, they'll put the same case coloring finish on any SB2 frame, prices shown are current. 

Tim

[gunnut69]

Case coloring is not necessarily the same as color case hardening.. I've seen case coloring done with an oxy-acetylene torch, oil, and water.. Color case hardening requires heat that can alter the temper profile. It originally used to give a thin hard surface to mild steel that would not normally be hardenable, even cast iron and cast steel.. It also has the propensity to cause warping of complex shapes such as receivers which usually have to be restrained to avoid this problem.. I've not done the color case hardening myself. good luck with a complex project.

[Nobade]

I just recently talked with Wyoming Armory about having a Marlin case colored. They said they wouldn't do it because it is made of chrome moly steel, and would end up being hardened throughout and would eventually crack.  I figure these guys are the experts, and I will listen to their advise. It is fine to case harden iron and mild steel, such as old rifles made before 1900, but not to try it on any modern gun since pretty much everything now is made from either 4130 or some variant of it, or 8620 if it is originally a casting.

[olddaddy]

Based on comments here I had a long talk with the smith and decided not to case color the SB2 receiver.  The 4140 steel it is made from can become brittle and crack, so no dice!  I guess that explains why I haven't seen one done already.....thanks for the patient understanding as I learn my way around these amazing rifles.