Klarinet Archive - Posting 000184.txt from 1997/09

From: "Leo van Zantvoort" <leovz@-----.nl>
Subj: Re: Springing the blues
Date: Fri, 5 Sep 1997 00:14:41 -0400

hmm.... I have seen (and replaced) many rusty blue (red-brown) springs... If it is true wat you say, than the
process is a lousy one...

On Tue, 2 Sep 1997 08:59:23 -0400 (EDT), Jrykorten@-----.com wrote:

>Actually, from what I understand, the blueing process protects the metal from
>rusting due to atmospheric moisture. It has nothing to do with spring tension
>or hardness.
>The hardness is achieved by tempering the steel (a heating and cooling
>process that affects the crystalline structure of the metal).
>
>The blueing process is a surface oxidation that prevents regular rust. There
>are other methods that work as well, such as gold plating as Leblanc does.
>
>In a message dated 97-08-31 06:03:47 EDT, Leo writes:
>
> >Blue steel, as in blue steel springs, is steel that has been treated with
> >either hot or cold bluing. The same stuff they use on guns to help retard
> >rusting. It is only a finish.
>
>It is not only a finish. The methode of hardening the spring be the cause of
>hardening the surface, and
>leave the core tough. The reson is that the spring has the elasticity of a
>full hardend spring, but the
>toughness of a unhardend spring. In other words, it wil not break as fast. as
>a hardend spring, and it wil
>not bend as easy as a unhardend spring.
>
> Leo (the spelling crack) van Zantvoort