Bob do you heat treat your tumblers that you make out of 1144 stressproof steel? Here is a statement from noted metal supplier LaSalle Steel CO. & AED Motorsport Products Ltd on 1144 stressproof steel - "This material is typically used in parts that would otherwise require heat-treating (a process generally not required in 1144 Stressproof)". If you do heat treat what are your temps for hardening and tempering this steel?
From "Making a gun lock" - your comment - "High quality material is easy to find today.I have used 0-1 for sears and "flys" plus 1144 "Stressproof" for tumblers for decades and sent many of the locks I have made with these materials to Germany where they are still in use in competition.I have a "Bailes" I made about 30 years ago setting on the mantle that needs the frizzen reconditioned but the mechanism is still like new and unaltered.Any industrial supply house can furnish 0-1 and the 1144 I recently got to finish some orders with came from OnLine metals". Bob Roller.
I use the old hillbilly method of heating it to a low orange color and dropping it into
a can of hydraulic jack oil. After it cools I get it out with a magnet,polish it and draw
it to a light straw color and let it air cool.The method is old but the results and lack of
returned locks says something for it.1144 "Stressproof"machines like 12L14 and oil
hardens like drill rod.
I have no idea about what other uses for 1144 but do know Bill Large made barrels out of it
for years and no reported failures even in musket barrels.I suppose the idea of "what works is
what works"prevails here or at least it does for me.
Bob Roller