case hardening

[DocDrew]

Looking for sources for casenite or other case hardening compounds, and some general guidelines for the process. I've recently made a couple of simple knives/letter openers from horse shoes, would like to treat to put a little tougher edge on. thanks.

[mike-hr]

I buy kasenite #1 in a 1 LB can from MSC tools. Heat the piece to a good red, sprinkle on the powder, back in the forge to bright red and hold for a minute, and then plunge into water and swirl around.. nifty stuff. Also works good for eye drifts, etc. made from mild steel.

[Mike Turner]

I have seen it in Enco's catalogue Enco - Guaranteed Lowest Prices on Machinery, Tools and Shop Supplies

Will this do?

[DocDrew]

Thanks, guys. I checked MSC, but with Casenite rather than Kasenite. Will recheck, as well as Enco's, and post who's cheaper.

[DocDrew]

Enco with the win, hands down. 1#: enco $10, msc $21, 5#: enco $40, msc $81.

Thanks

[BT]

a couple more sources
Dixie Gun Works muzzleloading, blackpowder and rare antique gun supplies.
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/sto...il.aspx?p=7626

[John B]

An old blacksmiths simple way to produce a case hardened type finish on steel without using toxic materials can be made as follows from Wheat flour, salt and water.

Mix two teaspoonfuls of water, half a teaspoonful of flour, and one teaspoonful of salt and make into a paste.

Heat the steel to be hardened enough to coat it with the paste by immersing it into the composition and it should adhere to the metal.

Then heat the paste covered area to a Cherry red and plunge it into cold soft water.

If done correctly the steel will come out with a white surface and be appreciably hard.

[ThomasPowers]

Another method is to heat the piece and "crayon on" a piece of heated cast iron to leave a thin layer of higher C on the piece---from the UN book on smithing