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General Vintage Technology Discussions For general discussions about vintage radio and other vintage electronics etc. |
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3rd Nov 2019, 9:57 am | #41 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: St.Ippolyts, Hitchin, Hertfordshire QRA IO91UW
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Re: How do I age stainless steel screws?
How about heat - real heat?
All the stainless fixings we use on exhaust systems very quickly discolour and change to a dark grey/brown shade. (these are A2 and A4 grade bolts) A good thrashing with a blowtorch should sort this out.
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3rd Nov 2019, 12:17 pm | #42 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Boston, Lincolnshire, UK.
Posts: 993
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Re: How do I age stainless steel screws?
Attacking the problem from a different angle - I don't recall seeing what size and style you need ? Just a thought, but maybe someone here knows where to find them in a normal steel grade, as opposed to stainless.
Alan |
3rd Nov 2019, 8:30 pm | #43 |
Hexode
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Ireleth-in-Furness, Cumbria, UK.
Posts: 286
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Re: How do I age stainless steel screws?
Ha Ha, I didn't think of that
No4. 2.9mm Dia 6mm long slotted and flat(ish) head, in mild steel. As per the picture in one of the earlier posts. Nick G0HIK |
3rd Nov 2019, 8:31 pm | #44 |
Hexode
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Ireleth-in-Furness, Cumbria, UK.
Posts: 286
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Re: How do I age stainless steel screws?
I always thought Stainless steel went a blueish colour, but I'll give one a blast tomorrow and see what happens.
Nick G0HIK |
3rd Nov 2019, 8:35 pm | #45 | |
Hexode
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Ireleth-in-Furness, Cumbria, UK.
Posts: 286
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Re: How do I age stainless steel screws?
When you buy online you dont expect the quality of the items to be great, unless you use a trusted source.
These said they were A4 Marine grade, but I've heard this before and had things rusting outside in no time. On this occasion they seem to be living up to their name. https://www.westfieldfasteners.co.uk...ess_Steel.html I did not buy from this company on this occasion, this is just for reference. Nick G0HIK Quote:
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3rd Nov 2019, 8:40 pm | #46 | |
Hexode
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Ireleth-in-Furness, Cumbria, UK.
Posts: 286
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Re: How do I age stainless steel screws?
You might just be right, sometimes life is just too short, I want to get this project off the work bench.
Those shiny new screws will be annoying me though till they dull down. Nick G0HIK Quote:
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3rd Nov 2019, 8:53 pm | #47 |
Octode
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Willand, Devon, UK.
Posts: 1,023
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Re: How do I age stainless steel screws?
Plumbers flux will also discolour stainless, but I'd go for high heat as it's fast.
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3rd Nov 2019, 9:32 pm | #48 |
Guest
Posts: n/a
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Re: How do I age stainless steel screws?
Grit blasting
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4th Nov 2019, 5:24 am | #49 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Oxfordshire, UK.
Posts: 4,924
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Re: How do I age stainless steel screws?
The "A4" designation is the same as type 316, which is one of the more corrosion resistant. Looking at some websites, it appears that many fastener companies are now offering to supply electropolished parts (not at all common when I was a boy!), which makes them even more resistant.
B
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4th Nov 2019, 7:31 pm | #50 |
Hexode
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Ireleth-in-Furness, Cumbria, UK.
Posts: 286
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Re: How do I age stainless steel screws?
I had two screws in Plumbers flux today, one in good old fashioned "Fluxite" and the other in the modern stuff, but showed no signs of discolouration.
This evening I've just used a blow lamp, this is certainly the quickest and best. Like anything else there is a technique, some have discoloured better than others, I dont know what the technique it yet It's also difficult putting a load in the vice as it takes the heats away, so I need to work out a way of doing several at a time. The picture shows :- Top two original middle two heat treated. bottom two as received from the supplier. Nick G0HIK |
4th Nov 2019, 7:57 pm | #51 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: St.Ippolyts, Hitchin, Hertfordshire QRA IO91UW
Posts: 3,517
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Re: How do I age stainless steel screws?
Glad it worked for you
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Engineers make things work and have spare bits when finished |
4th Nov 2019, 9:18 pm | #52 |
Octode
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Willand, Devon, UK.
Posts: 1,023
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Re: How do I age stainless steel screws?
The discoloured ones certainly fit in better than the shiny ones!
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