Case hardening

A

airedaleguns1

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I have asked this question before but with poor results, so I am trying again. I have a .58 caliber replica flintlock pistol and the problem is the case hardening on the frizzen is poor and it will not strike a spark. What is the solution? I can do it if I have good info but live in a remote area so cannot obtain the casenit or bonemeal here and need the proper drill to go thru the process. Hoping to burn more powder and thanks for any advise, Alex.
 
Kasenit is $10.55/lb from Brownells, #479-001-100 if you can't find any anywhere else. I might have some somewhere; I'll see if I can find it. Casehardening a frizzen is a temporary fix; sooner or later the case will be cut through and it'll have to be done again. Are you sure the frizzen is mild steel and cannot be through hardened?
Another option is to face the frizzen with a piece of hard steel. It can be either soft soldered or rivetted on. Just a thought.
 
It is common to see original frizzens "shoed" with a piece of high carbon steel, but they are usually silver soldered or brazed on. If you are going that route, I suspect you would be wise to put a small rivet in before hardened because silver solder and braze both melt around the red hot temperature for iron, which you need for hardening the shoe.

cheers mooncoon
 
Another powder that works the same as Kasenit is Quick Hard (made by J.W.Harris). It seems to be more commonly available in Canada. I've bought this stuff at local welding supply stores. The surface gets fairly hard with one application and if you want a deeper hard layer you can apply it multiple times. I've used it for one-off taps and dies.
 
You should be cautious about using some of the old case hardening compounds inside the house. My impression is that some of them contained cyanide salts; safe to use with appropriate ventilation probably. Kasenite used inside the house does not appear to cause any problems problems problems :>)
An addendum to Mike's comment; carbon absorption is a factor of time and the number I have heard quoted is .001" to .002" deep per minute while the metal is red hot and covered by Kasenite.

cheers mooncoon
 
Mike said:
Another powder that works the same as Kasenit is Quick Hard (made by J.W.Harris). It seems to be more commonly available in Canada. I've bought this stuff at local welding supply stores. The surface gets fairly hard with one application and if you want a deeper hard layer you can apply it multiple times. I've used it for one-off taps and dies.
Click to expand...

Do you have a mail order source for either Kasenit or Quick Hard? Brownells won't ship Kasenit to Canada, and none of the welding supply stores around me stocked the Quick Hard either.

Thanks,
BB
 
beeperboy said:
Do you have a mail order source for either Kasenit or Quick Hard? Brownells won't ship Kasenit to Canada, and none of the welding supply stores around me stocked the Quick Hard either.

Thanks,
BB
Click to expand...

No I don't. I suspect that both products are hazardous materials and it would be easiest to get your local welding shop to get it for you. Also, try emailing the manufacturers for distributors close to where you live. Quick Hard is from J.W.Harris and you'll find their stuff in quite a few shops.
 
Mike said:
No I don't. I suspect that both products are hazardous materials and it would be easiest to get your local welding shop to get it for you. Also, try emailing the manufacturers for distributors close to where you live. Quick Hard is from J.W.Harris and you'll find their stuff in quite a few shops.
Click to expand...

Thanks,
I'll do some more snooping.

BB
 
Thanks guys. I finally got an old gunsmith buddy in Crowsnest Pass who had a spare can of Casenit. I have been mourning the passing of my best friend from childhood who was also a blackpowder guy. David Brown from Winnipeg if any of you knew him, the best. Alex.
 
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