"The other Thomas Gardner"
wrote in message ...
Subject pretty much says it all: What can one expect to pay for various
forms of heat treatment (for hardening, not annealing)? I've been under
the assumption that any kind of heat-treat is pretty spendy, so I've
been trying to pick materials that can get by without, but some folks
are telling me it ain't so bad. I can find no pointers on price, though.
Not so bad to one guy could be a back breaker to another...

I know different materials are going to require different procedures,
so I would expect the costs to vary. However, does anyone have have any
rules of thumb to get me in the ballpark of what I might expect for at
least a few of the various procedures? Knowing the price differences
in the treatment types would also help me in material selection.

For a general idea, think a cube of steel about 3.5" on a side. That
should be about the right ballpark. Probably doing these in respectable
quantity, like maybe a few hundred in a squirt. Not vast quantity, but
respectable.

Thanks,
tg.

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I think my heat treating costs are cheaper than the shipping to the heat
treater so I drive the 2 miles. I'll do small, one-offs in the shop. Like
everything else, supply and demand...are there a few firms in competition
around the neighborhood? Don't do it at home, it's another job that will
steal part of your life and cost WAY more than you think. Are these parts
for your "time machine" design? Get to work on the motor!!!! ...or you
will be labeled "The Prince of Procrastination" (I'm the KING)