"Artemia Salina" wrote in message
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On Wed, 21 Jan 2004 16:40:44 +0000, Ed Huntress wrote:

"Artemia Salina" wrote in message
news
Is there any reason that wrought
or cast iron was preferred back when that book was written? Was it
just what was most commonly available back then, or is there some
advantage to it over, say, steel?

I really don't know. There are boats and muffles made of sheet steel
today,
so my guess is that it doesn't matter. But I'd double check that before
betting anything on it.

True, stainless steel tool wrap is another example, I think. Or is that
just used to seal out oxygen during heat treating?

Well, that's what a heat-treating boat does, too. With a metal boat, or a
stainless foil wrap, you have to throw in something to keep the carburizing
potential up a little bit, even if you aren't case hardening.

BTW, something to keep in mind, if you haven't done this, is that potter's
clay makes an effective wrap for slow carburizing. Just roll some out fairly
thin (maybe 3/16" or 1/4" at most) with a rolling pin and wrap the part,
with some carburizing material, like a burrito or a dumpling. Then pinch the
ends closed, poke a couple of holes with a toothpick or whatever to keep it
from exploding, and let it dry for a day or two. Warm it up slowly to drive
off any remaining water, and then toss it into the coals, or whatever you
use for case hardening. When it's done, just crack it open with a hammer.


Of course, acquiring the hooves and horns will be another problem! :-)

Charred leather or rawhide is supposed to be good. You could get one of
those rawhide bones at the pet shop and toss it on the barbie. g

As a point of info, that description does say that old shoe leather and
belting is _not_ suitable material for case hardening. It must be the
"impurities" in that leather from the tanning process (and possibly shoe
polish?) that make it unsuitable. Doesn't say anything about chewy toys
though! :-)

I've always wondered about that. Leather can be tanned in several different
ways, which have very different chemistries.

You also can buy sliced hooves at the pet shop.

Ed Huntress