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Author Topic: Hardening screw heads  (Read 3056 times)

Offline Mauser06

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Hardening screw heads
« on: January 25, 2018, 09:24:58 AM »
Forgive me..I know next to nothing about metal work, heat treating, hardening, tempering etc.


One thing I'd like to do is harden screw heads.  No matter how careful I am, I always booger them up. Just seem to be pretty soft.


I don't have access to much...I have a propane torch. I don't know if that would be enough? 


I did a search and seems many case harden with kasenite..i don't have any..but sure I could find some.


Figured I'd ask and see what is recommend...didn't know if heating and quenching in oil or water or something would work..
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Offline SingleMalt

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Re: Hardening screw heads
« Reply #1 on: January 25, 2018, 01:12:33 PM »
For screw heads, propane works fine.  Kasenite is off of the market, but there are a few replacements.  Brownells has a good one.
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Offline Mauser06

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Re: Hardening screw heads
« Reply #2 on: January 25, 2018, 02:44:44 PM »
Thanx!   


I think I will give it a try.  I know that's one thing that drives me nuts. Even if I'm careful, use a proper screw driver, etc, seems I mark up every screw head.
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Offline Old Ford2

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Re: Hardening screw heads
« Reply #3 on: January 25, 2018, 03:25:44 PM »
Hi,
To replace kasenite, you can purchase a product called " cherry red " it will do much the same work as kasenite.
If you live in or near a larger city you can purchase it at a welding supply store or a metal supplier.
Have a great day!
Fred
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Offline Brian Jordan

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Re: Hardening screw heads
« Reply #4 on: January 25, 2018, 08:18:21 PM »
You will still have to be cautious with case hardened screws. The hardening is very shallow. I made my lock bolts out of O1 and tempered them back to around 48Rc.
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Offline JCKelly

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Re: Hardening screw heads
« Reply #5 on: January 27, 2018, 10:06:09 PM »
Mr. Mauser - I might suggest you try heat treating a few screws just to get the hang of it, before you heat up a nicely finished item.

Just to be picky, you will get a faster quench (more chance of it getting hard), actually with less distortion, if you quench in salt water. That is about 13 ounces of table salt in a gallon of water. Works nicely for knives of carbon steel, like 1095 or old files. (not necessary for alloyed steel, such as O1, A6 or D2)

I got my first heat treat lesson using Kasenit over a coal forge, with instructions from the blacksmith in Salisbury, Maryland 1959. My amazing $5 Miller Bedford flint lock sort of sparked, after I finished hardening (sorta) the frizzen.

First job as a metallurgist Black & Decker, Towson, Maryland 1963.
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Offline Mauser06

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Re: Hardening screw heads
« Reply #6 on: January 27, 2018, 10:25:58 PM »
Thanx all!   


I would certainly test it out before jumping to a finished product.



Even if they are only surface hardened, I think that would help. 

I guess my last build I used more wood screws than typically used so that probably factors into my issue. Normal build will have about 5 screws. 2 in the lock, 1 in the tang and 2 in the buttplate.

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ddoyle

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Re: Hardening screw heads
« Reply #7 on: January 27, 2018, 10:26:15 PM »
JCkelly,

Big thanks for the prescription for salt water. I never knew how much salt was called for when I read 'brine'. Huge help.  one for the book of notes.
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Offline T*O*F

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Re: Hardening screw heads
« Reply #8 on: January 28, 2018, 12:30:40 AM »
Are you boogering up your screws during the build?  I use scrap screws during the build and only use the permanent ones last.
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Offline Terry Reynolds

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Re: Hardening screw heads
« Reply #9 on: January 28, 2018, 01:22:02 AM »
Quote from: T*O*F on January 28, 2018, 12:30:40 AM
Are you boogering up your screws during the build?  I use scrap screws during the build and only use the permanent ones last.

Before I started my first build I bought a extra set of screws just because I knew they would booger up.
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Offline Mauser06

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Re: Hardening screw heads
« Reply #10 on: January 28, 2018, 01:31:16 AM »
Well...that's about genius. Lol.  Never really thought of that.


That's probably when they get boogered up...that's the only time many are in/out a couple times. Once finished, they stay in asside from the lock bolts and occasionally the tang bolt..
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