Steel surface treatments
Steel surface treatments
(OP)
Hello,
Done a search for surface treatment options, but not found anything. We are making rifle actions, and need a surface treatment for the bolt body. So far, hard chrome plating has been used, but there are a few small design changes that make the HCP less desirable now - such as easier chip points etc.
What are the choices for a treatment / plating that is hard wearing (the substrate is 52RC anyway - high alloy tool steel), and more to the point, stops the part from rusting due to lots of handling from the user.
Are there any options that can be done in our own workshop? Such as a kit of some sort, or proprietry product or process we can use?
Thanks
Done a search for surface treatment options, but not found anything. We are making rifle actions, and need a surface treatment for the bolt body. So far, hard chrome plating has been used, but there are a few small design changes that make the HCP less desirable now - such as easier chip points etc.
What are the choices for a treatment / plating that is hard wearing (the substrate is 52RC anyway - high alloy tool steel), and more to the point, stops the part from rusting due to lots of handling from the user.
Are there any options that can be done in our own workshop? Such as a kit of some sort, or proprietry product or process we can use?
Thanks





RE: Steel surface treatments
How is the fastener used/reused?
What type environment?
Why didn't the chrome plating work out?
RE: Steel surface treatments
The bolt is the part in question - usually hard chrome plated due to many cycles to lock the action in place - many thousands in the life of the action. The main issue is the bolt is handled a lot by people using the rifle action, ending up as a rusted bolt if the person is not meticulous with cleaning and maintenance (most of us probably).
Chrome plating adds cost, is a PITA due to our location (a long way from platers), and the fact we cant do it ourselves, environment is outdoors, possible rain, salt air (near the ocean), possible lack of surface lubrication by inattentive users (not in our control).
Also, the chrome plating has been known to chip off on smaller sharp corners, and from imperfect handling from users (there is a theme here).
RE: Steel surface treatments
RE: Steel surface treatments
All the following can be accomplished on a small scale with a nominal investment.
Here is one strong candidate, Parkerizing, for your "bolt". It's a phosphating process that's been around for years and works quite well. Depending on your requirements you might want to go to someone like Brownells or if the requirements are high go to Henkel.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkerizing
Here are some of the Black Oxides eluded to by Compositepro.
I've used products from all three with good results. The higher temperature products generally give a much better coating.
http
http://www.birchwoodcasey.com/trutemp/index.html
http:/
RE: Steel surface treatments
RE: Steel surface treatments
Have you considered a high chrome content tool steel like D2? It is almost "stainless". What about 440C? 17% Chrome & you can harden it to ~60 HRc.
RE: Steel surface treatments
Give someone like Nimet or General Magnaplate a call.
RE: Steel surface treatments
The steel has been chosen by the designer for its particular suitability to this task, and that it has very little distortion after heat treatment. It also has a high content of nickel and chrome, so is not far from SS itself.
There is only about 0.004" play between the bolt and body, so there is not much room for distortion. I personally do not like multiple machine operations like turning, heat treatment, grinding, plating - just too difficult where we are located due to lack of services here, and long distances and timeframes.
Looks like we might have to give the surface treatment a miss and go with the 52RC material surface, being polished.
RE: Steel surface treatments
RE: Steel surface treatments
http://www.caswellplating.com/kits/bnen.html
RE: Steel surface treatments
http://www.ultimatecc.com.au/products.htm
Maui
RE: Steel surface treatments
Personally I like the idea of electroless Ni plating. You will want to select a plating base on adhesion.
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Plymouth Tube
RE: Steel surface treatments