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Thread: Case Hardening Compound

  1. #1
    Supporting Member editor@glue-it.com's Avatar
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    Case Hardening Compound

    Just thought I would start a thread on this subject to see if I could find any better options:

    I'm currently using this compound from EKP tools:

    Case Hardening Compound-case-hardening-002.jpg

    Case Hardening Compound-img_6238.jpg

    More details and a review here: Case Hardening Compound – glue-it.com

    What other options are there for case hardening?

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  3. #2
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    I used to use "Kasenit" but found it no longer available. I landed on this site - https://www.travers.com/1lbcan-1-surface-hardning-compnd-kasenit/p/81-003-001/ - they do suggest an alternate option ( https://www.travers.com/steel-surfac.../p/81-003-201/ ). I saw from the available PDF ( https://www.travers.com/images/art/81-003-001_msds.pdf ) "Kasenit" was Sodium ferrocyanide - yellow prussate of soda! Na4 Fe(CN)6

    Hope this might help.

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    Supporting Member bruce.desertrat's Avatar
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    Chris (@clickspring) has explored this process in his Antikythera build, and got some quite decent hardening with just charcoal, salt and flour:
    Sounds much less toxic than mucking about sodium ferrocyanate! You DEFINITELY want good ventilation for that!)

    So far I think I'm enjoying his 'Antikythera Fragments' videos about re-inventing and exploring ancient technology as much as the mechanism build itself...

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    Supporting Member Toolmaker51's Avatar
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    While compounds for inducing carbon to mild steel have 'modernized', the physical element hasn't. Higher potential heat has deepened it, and service is offered by most any heat-treat plant commercially. But the process is still easily applied with minimal equipment.

    Historically, carburization was done in a fire pit. Parts were packed in bone meal, salt, and leather scraps; then solidly encased in wet clay. After clay dried, the pack was buried in hot embers for several hours, then allowed to air cool before opening.
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  8. #5
    Supporting Member madokie's Avatar
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    here in the USA brownells still sells their case harding compound, its just like kasenite,22$ a pound.do u guys have gunsmithing supply shop in UK ? they might carry it..surely some place in france will..

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  10. #6
    ChrisB257's Avatar
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    Yes, I remember Chris had mentioned his own method - in fact thinking back I seem to remember a mix of charcoal, salt and also - bone meal - was a usable formula. For sure the ferrocyanate does not sound too appealing!

    Ahh - see someone mentioned Brownells - had forgotten that.
    Last edited by ChrisB257; Apr 20, 2018 at 08:05 AM. Reason: addition of Brownells
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    Supporting Member editor@glue-it.com's Avatar
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    Have been using this case hardening to harden the end of a replacement bolt for a small antique LAL tap wrench and it has worked really well

    Case Hardening Compound-case-hardening-004.jpg

    The reward of repairing something that is so well designed is wonderful:

    Case Hardening Compound-case-hardening-006.jpg

    More details of the case hardening compound – glue-it.com



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    Jon (Apr 9, 2020), Toolmaker51 (Apr 5, 2020)

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