[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Quick heat treating question

Posted: 3/31/2008 8:40:55 AM EDT

I've seen on some build tutorials that the guy heat treats the top receiver rails and on some other tuts they don't. Is it really necessary to heat treat em' or can I live without that?

Thanks,
Quinn

Posted: 3/31/2008 9:04:48 AM EDT

[#1]

I think that's probably just a waste of time. Just do the lower rail ejector, or any bits of the lowr rail you think need to be done and the FCG holes and you should be good.

Posted: 3/31/2008 9:18:53 AM EDT

[#2]

Not to highjack but, another heat treating question... Could a coleman butane gas be used in place of map gas?

Posted: 3/31/2008 10:52:15 AM EDT

[#3]

I heat mine after modifying them, I have seen excessive wear on them without it and it is such a difficult spot to replace them I would try to do whatever you can to avoid that (I have replaced lower rails and it is not fun).

Coleman butane would work fine, a Zippo would even work if you had nothing else.

Posted: 3/31/2008 11:32:49 AM EDT

[#4]

Thanks for the answers, fellers.

I started to heat treat the right side rail, but it was just taking forever. I guess I'll go ahead and finish it and leave the rails on my other build untreated to see if there is a noticeable difference.

Thanks again,
Quinn

Posted: 3/31/2008 1:17:15 PM EDT

[#5]

use an oxy acetalyne torch if you can, i can heat treat a receiver in about 2 minutes, from time i turn the tanks on till i turn them off, and thats including the time to walk outside to dunk the cherry red rails and holes

Posted: 3/31/2008 8:42:25 PM EDT

[#6]

i wouldnt shoot that unless the ejector area has been heat treated and annealed.....go get some mapp gas and be done with it or u will be kicking yourself later

mapp gas burns well over 1600 degrees...only takes about 10 seconds to get it cherry

Posted: 3/31/2008 9:45:02 PM EDT

[#7]

How to tell when it`s hot enough to harden: A magnet will not stick.
The carbon and iron lose their bond in 10XX series steels at about 1560 degrees F.
The quick cooling causes them to rearrange in tighter patterns and thus hardens the metal.
When it`s cherry red and a magnet dont stick, quickly quench it in oil.
if a magnet still sticks even though it red it`s not hot enough.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Quick heat treating question

AK Sponsor

Warning

Confirm Action

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Quick heat treating question

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Quick heat treating question