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Unread 03-14-2014, 08:05 AM   #5
Olle
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lugerholsterrepair View Post
a recipe for a chemical strawing solution that required Selenic acid. Sounds crazy. Maybe they used the acid to clean the part before strawing? I always use alcohol to final clean before firing up the plumbers torch.
Re read that thread or tell us where it is (link) maybe all will be revealed...
It's really not as crazy as it sounds, like I mentioned in the other thread, selenic acid is one of the components in cold blue. I haven't tried this, but I have seen an engraved pistol where the engraver used diluted cold blue to make the engraving look like gold. I have also read a description for how to simulate case hardening by dabbing cold blue and water on the parts, this will supposedly produce an mottled pattern in different colors. I wouldn't be surprised if the selenic acid actually can produce something like a straw color, but as already said: Heating is much easier. It doesn't involve any hard-to-get chemicals at all, just a good cleaning and some judicious work with a propane torch.
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