Luger paint color

[Steinar]

Anodizing does indeed look like fun. Wonder how it would work on steel..

Btw. I thought all Lugers where painted like this

[GySgt1811]

"Btw. I thought all Lugers where painted like this..."

I just threw up in my mouth a little. I will never, ever, make fun of my "Krome Kannon" again!

[ithacaartist]

Originally Posted by Steinar

Anodizing does indeed look like fun. Wonder how it would work on steel..

That's a good question. The articles mention magnesium, titanium, and aluminum. Iron/steel has different chemical properties which I suspect may preclude anodizing as a finish for it. I do, however, wonder what process is used to make "aluminized steel" which was touted by Ford, I think, some years ago, in reference to body panels. I know it's also used in automotive exhaust systems. But I think if it were anodizing, the process/treated material wouldn't have needed a new name.

The aspects of anodizing similar to galvanizing--which is a very hot dip in molten zinc--are the layer formed between the outside skin of the treatment and the original material beneath, and the phenomenon of slight dimensional growth of a part so treated. This layer is like an alloy because the molecules of the base metal and those of the coating are intermingled. Curiously, the growth is accelerated in the galvanizing process in areas of the treated material with higher silica content. So, if you'd welded a joint with regular alloy steel filler and ground and sanded the joint smooth and flush, it will look as if someone had taken a caulking gun to the weld after it emerges from the dip tank.

DP

[Olle]

Originally Posted by ithacaartist

I do, however, wonder what process is used to make "aluminized steel" which was touted by Ford, I think, some years ago, in reference to body panels. I know it's also used in automotive exhaust systems.

I believe they use a hot dip process, much like hot dip galvanizing (simply put: you dip it in molten metal). An automotive engineer told me that it often replaces zink on parts where the temperature varies a lot (like on exhaust systems), as the thermal expansion of aluminum is more similar to steel. The hot dip method is a bit "sloppy" and not really suited for gun parts where close tolerances are needed.

For guns, I'd say that any application of metal needs to be done chemically or by electrolysis to be able to control the thickness and to get a perfectly uniform coat. I have never seen any of those processes used for aluminum, but it's just another metal so I guess it can be done?

[GySgt1811]

Steinar,

Making fun of a man's pistol is worse than making fun of his wife; one can get you punched, the other can get you shot. Please realize my comment was meant in fun (before you put a 9mm hole in my rear!). (Actually, another 9mm hole; but that's another story.) Your lovely Luger sure is...unique.

Best Regards,

John

[Steinar]

Originally Posted by GySgt1811

Steinar,

Making fun of a man's pistol is worse than making fun of his wife; one can get you punched, the other can get you shot. Please realize my comment was meant in fun (before you put a 9mm hole in my rear!). (Actually, another 9mm hole; but that's another story.) Your lovely Luger sure is...unique.

Best Regards,

John

Absolutely no hard feeling. It's ment to bring out a smile at the range, just by beeing ..unique

[ithacaartist]

Originally Posted by Olle

I believe they use a hot dip process, much like hot dip galvanizing (simply put: you dip it in molten metal). An automotive engineer told me that it often replaces zink on parts where the temperature varies a lot (like on exhaust systems), as the thermal expansion of aluminum is more similar to steel. The hot dip method is a bit "sloppy" and not really suited for gun parts where close tolerances are needed.

Ollie,

Yes, that figures. That would mean that one could aluminize a steel piece first, to establish an aluminum outer surface which could, in turn, be worked carefully down to a desired smoothness, and then anodized purple!

An explanation for why Al is used rather than Zn for repeatedly heated and cooled components may lie in aluminum's higher ductility than zinc. Aluminum is generally softer than zinc, more ductile/less brittle. It would tend to hang on during dimensional fluctuations of the steel below, whereas zinc would tend more to crack off.

[Olle]

Originally Posted by ithacaartist

Ollie,

Yes, that figures. That would mean that one could aluminize a steel piece first, to establish an aluminum outer surface which could, in turn, be worked carefully down to a desired smoothness, and then anodized purple!

An explanation for why Al is used rather than Zn for repeatedly heated and cooled components may lie in aluminum's higher ductility than zinc. Aluminum is generally softer than zinc, more ductile/less brittle. It would tend to hang on during dimensional fluctuations of the steel below, whereas zinc would tend more to crack off.

If you could apply a very thin coat of aluminum, yes. I don't know if that's possible with aluminum though. The hot dip process will more than likely leave a coat that's too thick, and with some build-up in the nooks and crannies. I'm comparing with the problems you can have when using other metal coatings and if you compare with nickel, the only process that gives you a uniform coat is electroless plating. Even electrolysis can cause problems, as it won't cover evenly on irregular shapes. Then again, there might be a process that allows you to get an aluminum coat that's good enough for guns.

And you're probably right about the ductility. It has been quite a while since I discussed this with the engineer, but the problem with zinc is that it can start flaking if the metal underneath is expanding. This could very well be a matter of ductility rather than thermal expansion rate.

[rollin59]

Originally Posted by Steinar

Anodizing does indeed look like fun. Wonder how it would work on steel..

Btw. I thought all Lugers where painted like this

Well, I guess if you hafta do something like this, at least it's well done. Personally, I like a little Krylon flat black rattle can.