my profile |
register |
faq |
search upload photo | donate | calendar |
10-19-2022, 05:03 AM | #1 |
User
Join Date: Oct 2020
Posts: 20
Thanks: 15
Thanked 8 Times in 5 Posts
|
Anvil 060: Luger ReStraw
|
The following 4 members says Thank You to RWBlue01 for your post: |
10-19-2022, 03:44 PM | #2 |
Lifer
Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 725
Thanks: 2,089
Thanked 606 Times in 327 Posts
|
Thanks RW
Great tip ! I enjoyed that video very much. |
10-21-2022, 02:10 AM | #3 |
Twice a Lifer
Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Atop the highest hill in Schuyler County NY
Posts: 3,342
Thanks: 7,264
Thanked 2,569 Times in 1,363 Posts
|
The salient aspect of strawing is to take the parts to the temperature that turns their surface molecules the desired color. If you want to avoid hot chemicals, the expense of a half of a tank of propane, and the need to do it outdoors, the simple secret is to use a toaster oven. The problem most who do it with an oven encounter is uneven heating, which results in uneven colors.
My technique uses a good ol' toaster oven and a steel dish of sand. The oven must be dialed in by trial and error the first time to achieve the correct temperature. Start at a reasonable temp close to what you want and complete the process below. If the part is too light, trun the dial and raise the temp, and repeat the process. If the part is too dark, re-polish it, lower the temp, and try again. After that, marking the spot on the dial will enable you to reproduce the desired temperature for future projects. The container of sand is a buffer that ensures even heating of the parts. Otherwise, putting in unprotected parts exposes them to the radiant heat of the electric element, which is capable of heating thin areas of the parts to a temp that is too high, resulting in discoloration in that area when finished. Just heat the sand inside the oven until everything is warmed to the correct temp. Snuggle the parts into the sand, return the container containing it all into the oven, and wait 30-45 minutes. After that, you can pull the perfectly strawed parts out, wait until they're cooled enough to handle, wipe with an oil dampened rag, and Bob's your uncle. Quenching is absolutely unnecessary, although some folks do it, I suppose because they want to waste their time. The temperature for strawing does not affect previous heat treating or hardness of the steel.
__________________
"... Liberty is the seed and soil, the air and light, the dew and rain of progress, love and joy."-- Robert Greene Ingersoll 1894 |
10-21-2022, 07:26 PM | #4 |
Lifer
Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Winnipeg, Canada
Posts: 617
Thanks: 3,065
Thanked 1,057 Times in 429 Posts
|
To avoid temperature variations encountered in a toaster oven I use the regular kitchen oven and a cookie sheet.
Preheat to about 440f +- 5F Have your 'quench' oil at the ready ... I use olive oil. The most important part is prep work on the piece/pieces to be 'strawed'. I can't stress this enough ... your parts must be a mirror finish with all scratches removed with wet/dry emery cloths paper ... I use 3 grades 1000, 1500 and 2000 grit. Once all scratches etc have been brought to a mirror finish you are ready for the stove. Generally your looking at about 15 minutes in the oven but you will have to play with that for the results your after. OH NOOO ... I messed up !!!! No worries, just do it over - but don't take ANY shortcuts. Have Fun and DON'T try this on Granpa Georg's 1898 GL original ya ??
__________________
Whoever said that "money can't buy you happiness" never bought a Luger. WTB - Take Down Lever & Trigger Plate (#90) for an Imperial Artillery.
|
10-22-2022, 12:26 PM | #5 |
Super Moderator - Patron
LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA
Posts: 3,909
Thanks: 1,374
Thanked 3,110 Times in 1,510 Posts
|
Made this thread a "Sticky"
__________________
Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war. |
10-22-2022, 09:30 PM | #6 |
User
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 1,237
Thanks: 183
Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts
|
Strawed small parts were never originally polished to a mirror finish. They have a very light sanded finish.
__________________
Mike C. |
|
|