Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines
Builds, Repairs, Show Your Machines! => Technical Tips, Builds, and Help => Topic started by: Dr.Rev.DelmarMacReady on April 08, 2019, 10:06:41 am
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Hi Benny,
I know this is an old thread, just curious what the recipe was for the "blueing" you were experimenting with.
Tim
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Very interesting Benny, and I hope you can figure out that "purple-blue" as it's a special color, unique to so many of our engines.
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Among the problems you may be experiencing is the actual composition of the brass itself, the method of creation, and the "temper" and surface
"case" that it may have, along with various levels of surface oxidation. The odds of your test pieces being the same as any old boiler you may be thinking of doing are rather remote. Still worth trying this wonderful experiment to its fullest, and as you say, if it doesn't produce the effect you are after, just polish it off and try again. Most boilers have large surface areas that are hidden in the firebox, so provide test areas that will be specific to that boiler, that will not show on the finished product ... good place to try looking for that just right color.
Honestly, I am having fun figuring it out. If I can get my solution close, it seems like variances in color come with time in solution. My first tries at anything other than store-bought stuff, and the colors you can produce are pretty cool.
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Among the problems you may be experiencing is the actual composition of the brass itself, the method of creation, and the "temper" and surface
"case" that it may have, along with various levels of surface oxidation. The odds of your test pieces being the same as any old boiler you may be thinking of doing are rather remote. Still worth trying this wonderful experiment to its fullest, and as you say, if it doesn't produce the effect you are after, just polish it off and try again. Most boilers have large surface areas that are hidden in the firebox, so provide test areas that will be specific to that boiler, that will not show on the finished product ... good place to try looking for that just right color.
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I like that, Benny!
Brass can be a little tricky.
Gil
I'm finding that, Gil. Thickness, composition, etc all seem to change how it behaves. Luckily, if it doesn't work out just scrub it off and start over. I've got a lot of notes and pics of failures! Just practicing techniques and formulas before I go with a boiler.
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I like that, Benny!
Brass can be a little tricky.
Gil
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Looks good from here sir.
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In the course of trying to properly restore some of the early German engines, I have come across several that have damaged blueing on the boiler or the blue has been polished away altogether(and even once by me).
I didnt like the results I was getting with commercially available blue solutions, which most seemed to be more black or brown. I am after that rich, violet blue color on a beautiful original condition Bing.
After many failed recipes, I finally hit close to the correct one. [attachimg=2]
Above shot in natural lighting. Below, under 40 W incandescent desk lamp.[attachimg=3]
Opinions? Not blue enough is my first reaction, but I look at some examples I have and I think it just needs 10 more minutes in the bath.