Did I ruin my Mauser bolt? (with pictures)

[Einhander13]

So I wanted to clean my M48BO bolt in the ultrasonic cleaner.

I put it in the bucket with some brass and the brass cleaning solution.

YES I KNOW THIS IS WRONG, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW AT THE TIME THERE WAS A SEPARATE CLEANING SOLUTION FOR PARTS

I dont remember what the parts looked like after the cycle was done.

After the cycle was done, I put the brass and parts into a cookie sheet and put it into the oven on a towel that we use with Windex for cleaning windows/tv screens etc.

I then put them in the oven, WITH THE OVEN OFF and the oven light on to dry everything.

This is the result:






The pictures were taken yesterday, but this actually happened about a year ago, and I have not shot it since.

It almost looks like case hardening, although I've only seen that up close once or twice.

Bottom line: is it safe to shoot?

 

[antiqueguy]

looks like it took some temper out of it light straw color to a purple the purple spots mean those areas got a lot of heat

 

[Einhander13]

From just the oven light?

Or do ultrasonic cleaners heat up quite a bit too?

 

[antiqueguy]

From just the oven light?

Or do ultrasonic cleaners heat up quite a bit too?

idk about the ultrasonic cleaner

 

[Papaclaude]

Might be just some plating that occurred. You'd have to research the cleaning solution to see if it could have caused that. I used to copper plate cheap lures with copper sulfate and a battery. If the metal lure was not spotless, I'd get some weird coloration similar to that, but when it worked, the lures were killer lake trout bat, and much cheaper than Williams or the other name-brands.

 

[liberty]

Looks like a patina to me ,,,no loss of strength,,,try polishing the bolt with 0000 steel wool,,,

 

[tjsudbury]

looks kind of like simulated case hardening. I like it

 

[Papaclaude]

I'D still get it checked by someone who knows metallurgy quite well, just to be one the safe side.

Other solution: let one of your least-favourite in-laws fire the first shot!

 

[PatchRat]

I quite like the look of it for what it's worth. No knowledge to add though sadly. If it turns out that you only plated it, you might want to play around a bit and see what kind of finishes you can come up with.

 

[kevin9934]

Nothing at all here...

The brass cleaning solution have just altered the finish like brass when you dont neutralize acid.

You will never change the steel structure with your oven nor the sonic cleaner.

Clean and lube your bolt and enjoy your rifle

 

[antiqueguy]

Nothing at all here...

The brass cleaning solution have just altered the finish like brass when you dont neutralize acid.

You will never change the steel structure with your oven nor the sonic cleaner.

Clean and lube your bolt and enjoy your rifle

steel starts to draw temper at a very low temp it dose not take much and can change the hardness of the steel

 

[purple]

He said that he put it in the oven with the oven turned off and the oven light turned on. The heat generated by a light bulb should not affect anything for the worse. Parkerizing solution normally runs around 175deg F and a hot blueing solution is normally around 300deg F. Neither of these processes has an adverse effect on the strength of gun steel.

For future reference, some folks like to put brass in a low temp oven with the aim of drying it after rinsing/cleaning it. This isn't recommended as it can anneal (soften) brass which isn't a good thing. Some people think that putting a military stock in a dishwasher to remove old oil is a good idea too. Generally ovens should be reserved for cooking and dishwashers should be reserved for dishes. Most wives run things that way which can sometimes save us from ourselves.

 

[ghostntheshell]

Why are you drying your bolt / parts in the oven? Not flaming you - just wondering why.

 

[Blastattack]

steel starts to draw temper at a very low temp it dose not take much and can change the hardness of the steel

No it does not. You have to thoroughly heat a piece of hardened steel to 400F Fahrenheit to make any change to the temper, and that assumes that the steel is at it's absolute maximum possible hardness, which rifle bolts never are. Rifle bolts usually reach a maximum of about 2/3 the maximum possible hardness. If the temper on you bolt was altered, the oxidization would be completely uniform throughout. However your bolt is splotchy, and thus whatever agents present on the surafe reacted with the heat ad air to create the colors you see. This is assuming that the oven was off and at room temperature. If it was on, then all the previous may not be true.

 

[bearhunter]

If you are telling it as it is OP you haven't done anything other than chemically stain the pieces.

If you did have the oven turned on, you may have actually done some damage. The main area you would be concerned with would be the two front locking lugs.

I see one spot that looks like where it was closest to the lamp. That would be nothing to worry about either.

Actually, you should post in detail which chemicals you used and your method of applying them. Include pics.

That sort of finish would be very appealing on some firearms. People would pay good money to have that done. To bad such finishes are only skin deep and wear easily. You can probably get rid of it with the steel wool scrubbing pads used for cleaning dishes, if you are gentle.

 

[Mike Webb]

Tempering occurs from 400 degrees F to 700 degrees F. Colour wise that is from a light straw to a fairly deep blue colour. Steel is first hardened then tempered to soften it slightly or "draw it back". If temperature was below 400F there has been no change in the hardness of the steel.

 

[Cocked&Locked]

As stated, bolt is fine, just a surface finish from the ultrasonic solution. Leave it as is and shoot it, or buff it with extra fine steel wool and shoot it. Just shoot it!

 

[camster]

Might be just some plating that occurred. You'd have to research the cleaning solution to see if it could have caused that. I used to copper plate cheap lures with copper sulfate and a battery. If the metal lure was not spotless, I'd get some weird coloration similar to that, but when it worked, the lures were killer lake trout bat, and much cheaper than Williams or the other name-brands.

I have had this happen too, although not on a gun. Stainless steel clamps that were in a solution of salt n' vinegar with copper parts came out looking like this. It is plating, but no current required.

steel starts to draw temper at a very low temp it dose not take much and can change the hardness of the steel

What "very low temp" do you think is required to affect the bolt? Do you feel it could be achieved with an oven light, but not by firing the rifle?


As suggested already, nothing in your described process would have ruined your bolt.

 

[Einhander13]

Replies to various questions.

looks kind of like simulated case hardening. I like it

Finally, poor man's case hardening. I can make a fortune!

I'D still get it checked by someone who knows metallurgy quite well, just to be one the safe side.

Other solution: let one of your least-favourite in-laws fire the first shot!

I don't have any in-laws. Maybe you can borrow me yours?

I quite like the look of it for what it's worth. No knowledge to add though sadly. If it turns out that you only plated it, you might want to play around a bit and see what kind of finishes you can come up with.

Ha ha, maybe someone can borrow me their stainless Ed Brown.

Why are you drying your bolt / parts in the oven? Not flaming you - just wondering why.

Just to speed up the drying process, and remember, only the light was on, not the oven itself.

Actually, you should post in detail which chemicals you used and your method of applying them. Include pics.

Most of my gun stuff is at another location, so I will try to go there when I have time.

 

[Coyote Ugly]

Was it an Easy Bake Oven that makes little round chocolate cakes?