Poison it!

Nov 20, 2003 1 Replies

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John Ings 22 years ago

"Poison it!" my machinist mentor used to say, making reference to case hardening using compounds that used to contain cyanide among other things.

They don't any longer I understand, but what do they contain? And are they as effective? Does anyone know?

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Stan Schaefer 22 years ago

Any number of things will caseharden low-carbon steel and iron, burned leather, peach-pit charcoal, bone charcoal and sodium ferrocyanide are just a few. I believe the last one is the major component of "Kasenit" and has been for ages. See:

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As to effectiveness, this depends on how the hardening is being done and to what. Heating up the part with a propane torch, rolling it in the compound and dunking it in a bucket of water is going to give a pretty thin hardened surface. Burying the part in a metal box of the stuff and cooking it in a furnace for awhile will give a lot deeper case. You can do the same with just about any carbonaceous material and low-carbon steel or iron. Results will vary, though.

Stan

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