Interesting Result

[rgoad]

Today while Heat Treating an O1 Blade I had an interesting and cool looking result. I had already soldered a brass guard on before HT. The blade was in the kiln for 2 hrs at 400F. When I removed the blade from the kiln after the 2 hr soak it had a brass/gold color from tip to tip. My question is why?

Thanks

 

[mike miller]

Oxide colors- straw color is what you look for in a tempering color to get it to the right hardness.

 

[silver_pilate]

I've had similar things happen when using a cut-off from a brass-colored clothes hanger. I get a nice straw color from oxidation normally, but when I used those hangers, the coloring was very strong. I'm using copper wire for hangers now, and just get the normal oxidation color. I was always curious myself.

--nathan

 

[rgoad]

Thanks Mike. I had no idea.