Strawing question
 

Is strawing more than a surface finish ? I understand that blueing is a type of controlled rusting of the surface of the metal, but I've no idea how deep a straw finish is.

The practical aspect of the question is that I wonder what finish you're left with if you chemically removed blueing from a previously strawed part ?

Not that I'm desperately hoping or anything [img]smile.gif[/img]

Sorry, no expert on this, but I know a bit. Strawing is actually a heat treatment finish, not a chemical reaction such as bluing.

I know that it "fades" over time, it is unknown by me if the fading is due to air exposure or sunlight, time is a factor, but if a gun is kept in a controlled environment, then it doesn't lose its strawing as fast.

Thor or others?

I was told by bright lights, I have noticed that CLENZOIL sure helps prevent the fading so perhaps exposure to air might too. This finish is very suceptible to abrasion from handling. The bottom of the safety lever and the front of the right side of the trigger are a couple of places that show it first. I have stripped some parts that had been cold blued over and usually you end up with white "strawed parts" I can replace the strawing if that happens. I assume you are talking about a cold blued shooter Luger.

Thanks gentlemen. Absolutely right on the blueing point Thor ! This is on a commercial that was suposedly reblued in the 60's. I've yet to see it but was wondering if any strawing would have survived. I suspect not.

I've been meaning to get a gun to Thor to work his magic on, and if this is in reasonable condition it could be the right one.

Harry Jones, vol.1, book gives all the details for doing a straw finish. I have been following it for years with great results. Try it for yourself, it is near fool proof and really not risking much if it's a shooter anyway.

The yellow(straw) color is a particular form of iron oxide. Very thin colored oxides form on the steel surface as it is taken through specific temperature ranges, provided of course the metal has been polished first. Straw, light blue, a purple of sorts, and dark blue are all obtainable from heat treatment. The purple seems to fade to bluefairly quickly. The blues and yellow are fairly stable. The coating is fairly thin on the straw. Anything that will stabilize the oxidation process will help preserve it. I have no idea of the effect of sunlight or ultraviolet on it.

Hi Heinz! The purple you are refering to is called pigeon blue by spring makers... this is the desired color when drawing a spring back from a hard quench! You are correct in that it is fleeting color!... That is why most springs today are made in climate controlled environments! It is also the reason old world spring makers are known as wizzards! till...later...G.T. <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />