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Blueing Metal Test: First Experiments

Just had my first go at blueing metal with O-1 steel, and the results blew me away! 🎨🔧 Using my new oven and some guidance from ChatGPT, the steel turned a gorgeous blue. Can't wait to tweak and try again. Got any tips? Hit me up! Check out my pics and process here: https://thebitcoinwatchmaker.com/post/view/blueing-metal-test-first-experiments/

Just tried blueing metal for the first time using O-1 steel and my new Evenheat oven, and the results were unexpectedly fantastic! The steel turned a gorgeous uniform blue, which is promising for future watch component projects. Excited to keep experimenting and would love any tips you might have! 😊🔧

Blueing Metal Test: First Experiments

Today, I embarked on my first test in blueing metal, and it was an exciting learning experience! I started with O-1 steel in 1/16" thickness, which I sourced recently. (I’m still on the hunt for W-1 steel, so I’ll test that once I manage to find a reliable supplier.)

For this experiment, I also put my new Evenheat KH Series 13.5" oven to work, and with the guidance of ChatGPT, I developed the following steps for the process:

  • Step 1: Ramp rate: 300°C, Setpoint: 300°C, Hold time: 10 minutes
  • Step 2: Ramp rate: 137.38°C, Setpoint: 300°C, Hold time: 18 minutes
  • Step 3: Ramp rate: AFAP (as fast as possible), Setpoint: 150°C, Hold time: 45 minutes

The results? To my surprise, they turned out better than expected! 🎉

The steel developed a beautiful, uniform blue finish that exceeded my initial hopes for this experiment. This was a great first step toward mastering the blueing process for watch components, and I’m eager to refine the technique further. 😊

Stay tuned as I continue testing with different materials and tweaking the steps. If you have any tips or insights, I’d love to hear them!

Cool! 😊


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