Torching Stainless Steel - What colors to expect?

[Coheed848]

Ok, guys, please don't batter me if a similar topic already exists... I didn't find it.

 

I do have experience in torching putters, both carbon steel and stainless, however, I have never gotten beyond a light blue color on stainless. I have a new project coming up, that will include a SC Phantom X 2022 9.5 head. My goal is to torch it so that it will get a nice grey (a dark grey preferably)... So my question is, is that going to happen as you torch trough the differnet color stages? If so, do you have any images of the outcome? Just don't want to mess things up...

 

Looking forward to your replies!

[MachineHack]

Here’s a general colour chart but if you search for your specific grade of stainless it’ll help dial in temps 

 

 

[Coheed848]

Thanks for your reply! I have seen that "chart" and have used it in the past as a reference, however I can't quite tell if the "color" at 730 is more grey or blue...

[MachineHack]

The only time I’ve ever gotten grey is when I f up a tig weld and put too much heat (or not enough shielding gas into it) . I can’t say it’s a colour I’ve tried to produce on purpose either and it’s not a particularly nice finish 

 

so I’m not sure for just torching alone how grey it might go, and also depends on how hot you heat source can actually get the stainless  

 

best of luck with getting it there tho, hopefully someone has some better info then myself 

 

 

[Coheed848]

Thanks! Maybe someone else might chime in? I was even thinking about testing the different color stages myself by buying some stainless steel and test-torch it... however, I guess there are all sorts of stainless steel around. So does anyone know what SS Scotty uses and what reference material one can buy, lets say, in a home depot?

[MachineHack]

Almost all putters in stainless will be 303 (I say almost but I can’t say I’ve seen a machined putter out of anything but 303), 303 is specifically machine grade stainless

 

I’m not sure where you’re at but find a local steel supplier and ask. I wouldn’t go ebay or Home Depot as it’ll be really poor quality (if even), typically they skimp on the chromium which is the important thing you need for heat colouring stainless.

 

And just to edit this Scotty advertises them as 303

Edited July 6, 2022 by MachineHack

[Coheed848]

Awesome, thanks for your heads up! I'm in Germany but will find a steel supplier around for sure. Any how, if anybody else my want to share pictures of their torching results, please feel free to do so!

[oneaugusta]

When you try to get grey it is likely you will get spots of carbon that comes up to the surface after a few weeks or months, It will look like rust spots. I’ve even gotten this when going from dark blues to light blues in the heat sequence. Undoubtedly the prep will also have some affect.  

[Coheed848]

On 7/11/2022 at 12:06 AM, oneaugusta said:

When you try to get grey it is likely you will get spots of carbon that comes up to the surface after a few weeks or months, It will look like rust spots. I’ve even gotten this when going from dark blues to light blues in the heat sequence. Undoubtedly the prep will also have some affect.  

 

Thanks for that info! Do you happen to have some pictures of it at hand? Concerning the Prep: It'll be a brand new SC Phantom X 9.5 Head, so my only prep would be to take it apart and soak it in iso-propanol (99%) as I don't want to chance the surface finish itself...

 

by the way: are there any other ways of getting it to a drakes grey? I do have some Caswells Stainless Steel blackener at had. Used it once on a SS insert but didn't really turn out like what I expected...

 

Edited July 19, 2022 by Coheed848

[oneaugusta]

To get to grey you would need much more prep than a chemical soak if torching.  You would also need much more prep to get Caswell's to work correctly.  I would look at some type of coating to get grey, PVD or other.

[Coheed848]

Thanks oneaugusta! I have been thinking about a coating, however, if, only a PVD would be the choice. Did some experiments with powdercoating (too thick) but wasn't happy.... regarding the Caswells Blackener: what do you mean, much more prep is needed? I thought, that cleaning the SS so its degreased would suffice...

[oneaugusta]

Oxidation occurs with any metal and will block the caswell's from penetrating the steel to give a nice even finish.  Minimum prep is sand entire surface of head with 400 grit at least twice.(not face mill) then polish twice with flitz or semicrome.  Now your ready to clean with alcohol and apply SS blackener.  It's usually 2 or 3 applications.

[weakputt]

On 7/6/2022 at 4:40 AM, MachineHack said:

Almost all putters in stainless will be 303 (I say almost but I can’t say I’ve seen a machined putter out of anything but 303), 303 is specifically machine grade stainless

 

I’m not sure where you’re at but find a local steel supplier and ask. I wouldn’t go ebay or Home Depot as it’ll be really poor quality (if even), typically they skimp on the chromium which is the important thing you need for heat colouring stainless.

 

And just to edit this Scotty advertises them as 303

TPM Touring Pro 303 stainless steel (bottom left) turned perfectly purple at about 530*f.