The Armour Archive

Hello,
I know people successfully heat blacken (without oil) in a kiln (or even some ovens). Does anyone know what temperatures and times produce what colors? I can only find data for what temperatures gets steel to glow at certain colors.
Thanks,
Sean

Look under tempering colours, a dark blue is usually in the 500-600 degF range depending on alloy.

Thomas

Go here.

http://www.tpub.com/steelworker1/11.htm

Go here.

http://www.tpub.com/steelworker1/11.htm

As tom said peacock blue/purple from 500-600 followed by sort of grayish blue within 100 degrees. the cour change isn't very rapid in a kin so you can just keep peaking.

It will vary slightly with steel type and even ambient conditions.