RotoMetals2Lee PrecisionReloading EverythingTitan Reloading
Inline FabricationLoad DataRepackboxMidSouth Shooters Supply
Wideners
Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: hardening mild for gas check molds

  1. #1
    Boolit Bub
    Join Date
    Jul 2018
    Posts
    47

    hardening mild for gas check molds

    I recently read someone asking for a "brine recipe" for hardening mild ie 1018 or a36.
    we call it superquench in the smithing world
    heres the recipe

    4.5 (ish) gal of water
    1 lb bag of salt
    1 reg sized bottle of Dawn dish soap
    1 lil bottle of jet dry
    mix em all up.
    i recommend the salt first
    the principle behind this stuff is as follows
    the salt raises the boiling point
    the dishsoap cuts down on cavitation and water jacketing
    the jet dry breaks surface tension down a tad
    great stuff, but get a lid, it can be messy

  2. #2
    Boolit Buddy dimaprok's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Evergreen state
    Posts
    424
    I don't get it, is this for hardening gas check maker? How does it work?

  3. #3
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Location
    NW Oklahoma
    Posts
    311
    My son in law says 1018 or A36 is steel designations. Guess this is for hardening mild steel to make a mold? Or as dima said to make a check maker? Reddog give us a clue.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master
    NoZombies's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    N. Florida
    Posts
    2,493
    1018 and A36 are types of mild steel. 1018 is a designation for a mild steel of specific chemistry. A36 is a specification for certain properties, without any specifically required chemistry. 1018 is more predictable than A36, as A36 chemistry can be all over the place as long as it's physical properties meet certain minimum requirements.

    "Superquench" has been around for a while, but the recipe has changed over time, I remember when it called for Shaklee Basic as the surfactant of choice... The idea is to quench a low carbon steel quickly enough to allow the little bit of carbon it contains to actually impart some hardness to the alloy. I would be wary of using superquench on something like a gas check making die, as I never had good luck with dimensional stability when using it. At the very least, i would make everything undersize, and do the final ream and polish after the 'quench'.

    Good luck.
    Nozombies.com Practical Zombie Survival

    Collecting .32 molds. Please let me know if you have one you don't need, cause I might "need" it!

  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master

    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Castlegar, B.C., Canada
    Posts
    7,932
    "hardening mild for gas check molds"

    As already asked... is this for hardening gas check maker parts or...? Why would anyone want to harden a mould?

  6. #6
    Boolit Master corey012778's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Staunton,VA
    Posts
    895
    I am working on one now but I am confused myself. don't know much about these subject but wouldn't mild steel hold up for hundreds of thousands gc with out being harden or is there something else out there I that have not ran into while doing weeks of research.

  7. #7
    Boolit Grand Master

    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Castlegar, B.C., Canada
    Posts
    7,932
    My check makers are mild steel. The only thing I heat treated was the disk punch for the simple version. Everything else is just mild steel. Should last for some time before wear becomes an issue. I'd guess many thousands of checks will be made before I have to remake the check maker.

    Longbow

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check