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Case hardening compound
- Thread starter DavidR8
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- Jun 7, 2013
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It has been around for many years, but, who knows if it has been reformulated to avoid the chemicals that make for effective performance, to its detriment. I have some, but have never used it.
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2018
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I've used Kasenite, which is similar. It is basically a carbon containing powder. It raises the carbon content of the surace of the steel to the point that it can be oil hardened The part is heated to "cherry red", dipped in the mixture, heated again and quenched in oil. Simple and crude, but it works for things where a thin case is enough.
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- Joined
- Jan 20, 2015
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- 361
I have used Cherry Red to harden trigger sear surfaces. It works, it is pretty thin.
I bought some from Travers last year to case harden some swivel vise jaws . Seems to work fine. The only thing I would suggest is stay way from the fumes when you dunk the park in the powder. I don't no what the fumes are but the smell was terrible and made me cough a couple of times. Not sure what the depth of hardening is but after all it's just surface hardening.
Just keep in mind Travers now has a $100.00 minimum order.
Just keep in mind Travers now has a $100.00 minimum order.
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- Nov 25, 2015
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- 9,813
A 100 minimum? Years ago MSC had a minimum if I remember correctly. So I ordered from Enco.. I have a thing against MSC... just checked an item, they are selling it for 200% over what the manufacturer sells it for directly. I just can't see paying that just to keep them in business.
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- Apr 29, 2019
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I have used the Brownells "Surface Hardening Compound"
Probably the same stuff. I am still on my first container, you do not use up much per job.
BROWNELLS SURFACE HARDENING COMPOUND | Brownells
Easy-to-use compound case hardens plain and low carbon alloy steels. Carburizes surfaces quickly to uniform depth while retaining the toughness of the core. ...
www.brownells.com
Probably the same stuff. I am still on my first container, you do not use up much per job.
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2015
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- 9,813
There used to be a guy on ebay selling Kasenite from the Czech republic. I assume it was just the raw ingredient.
Anyway, you should also be able to case harden with Bone Meal. Since bone is a common material used for hardening.
Anyway, you should also be able to case harden with Bone Meal. Since bone is a common material used for hardening.
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2015
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- 10,018
For a deeper case, repeat the first part of the process. The case depth depends upon the total length of time the red hot part is in contact with the hardening compound.