cold blue

mitch009 · 03-26-2008, 01:14 PM

So a while back I had one of my bolt handles rewelded because right where the bolt handle turned into the bolt body and crack was forming. After I finished filing it all down and smoothing it out I cold blued it to make it some what match. It turned out pretty good except right where the crack was, the blue did not stain? ( thats what I would call it) the metal. Would this be because a different type of metal was used to cover the crack? Any ideas how to make it match?

Ron AKA · 03-26-2008, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mitch009

So a while back I had one of my bolt handles rewelded because right where the bolt handle turned into the bolt body and crack was forming. After I finished filing it all down and smoothing it out I cold blued it to make it some what match. It turned out pretty good except right where the crack was, the blue did not stain? ( thats what I would call it) the metal. Would this be because a different type of metal was used to cover the crack? Any ideas how to make it match?

Is it possible the welder used stainless or inconel tig wire? A blued finish is a controlled form of rust (corrosion), and stainless or inconel do not rust. Other possibility is that it is brazed, but I doubt that would be strong enough.

Ron

AKHunter · 03-26-2008, 09:27 PM

I am not a metalurgist or welder but I don't think one can weld carbon steel with stainless steel. If I am wrong I am sure to be corrected

. However you may want to try spraying some Brakeleen on the area, it does a great job of leaching out any oils or loose impurities that may be interfering with the blueing compound. Do it more than once and look for signs that something is migrating out of the weld.

toolman · 03-26-2008, 09:48 PM

In additon to the previous comments, try heating the area with a hair dryer or propane torch until it's hot to the touch, and then try rebluing it. I use carb. cleaner and compressed air to clean the metal.

Ron AKA · 03-26-2008, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKHunter

I am not a metalurgist or welder but I don't think one can weld carbon steel with stainless steel.

Actually it is done all the time. If you weld stainless to alloy steel with stainless it can have some issues, but it is done. Inconel is used to minimize some of the issues, but it can be difficult to weld with. That said I would expect the best way would be to use an E70S alloy steel tig wire. If E70S was used it should blue well, so it does not explain the problem.

Ron

samuel · 03-26-2008, 10:16 PM

I have done a lot of welding and it sounds like it was brazed which would leave a gold colored spot.Stainless will blind with most steel,including high carbon.If stainless was used it would be a bright silver.Neither would take blueing.Bronze welding would be strong enough.Stainless would be as strong as original.If you must blue it you can take it back and have him cut,grind and reweld with mild steel. sam.

ArkansasHunter · 03-26-2008, 10:22 PM

You can weld steel with stainless steel the only thing that happens is the crome that is in stainless becomes delutted when it's used to weld non stainless steel.
Which want hurt a thing in this application.
A.H

03-26-2008, 01:14 PM	#1
mitch009 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: WA Posts: 104	cold blue So a while back I had one of my bolt handles rewelded because right where the bolt handle turned into the bolt body and crack was forming. After I finished filing it all down and smoothing it out I cold blued it to make it some what match. It turned out pretty good except right where the crack was, the blue did not stain? ( thats what I would call it) the metal. Would this be because a different type of metal was used to cover the crack? Any ideas how to make it match?

03-26-2008, 09:48 PM	#4
toolman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: abilene,tx Posts: 5,026	In additon to the previous comments, try heating the area with a hair dryer or propane torch until it's hot to the touch, and then try rebluing it. I use carb. cleaner and compressed air to clean the metal. __________________ Don't be messin' with my gun!

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03-26-2008, 09:27 PM	#3
AKHunter Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 874	I am not a metalurgist or welder but I don't think one can weld carbon steel with stainless steel. If I am wrong I am sure to be corrected . However you may want to try spraying some Brakeleen on the area, it does a great job of leaching out any oils or loose impurities that may be interfering with the blueing compound. Do it more than once and look for signs that something is migrating out of the weld.

03-26-2008, 10:16 PM	#6
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 4,638	I have done a lot of welding and it sounds like it was brazed which would leave a gold colored spot.Stainless will blind with most steel,including high carbon.If stainless was used it would be a bright silver.Neither would take blueing.Bronze welding would be strong enough.Stainless would be as strong as original.If you must blue it you can take it back and have him cut,grind and reweld with mild steel. sam.

03-26-2008, 10:22 PM	#7
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,159	You can weld steel with stainless steel the only thing that happens is the crome that is in stainless becomes delutted when it's used to weld non stainless steel. Which want hurt a thing in this application. A.H