Looking for info on fine tuning a flintlock

[FlinterNick]

Please explain how salt (sodium and chlorine) water (Hydrogen and Oxygen) has carbon in it?

the cherry red powder adds the carbon; the salt water quench enhances hardening.

 

[fourbore]

Please explain how salt (sodium and chlorine) water (Hydrogen and Oxygen) has carbon in it?

I have read that hardening is as much an art as a science. Some used urine among outer secret or odd solutions. Yea, maybe best not to get over scientific about this stuff. Use words like changing properties and no feathers get ruffled.

 

[Griz44Mag]

the cherry red powder adds the carbon; the salt water quench enhances hardening.

So you are indicating that the carbon is coming from the torch fuel and not the salt water?

 

[Griz44Mag]

I have read that hardening is as much an art as a science. Some used urine among outer secret or odd solutions. Yea, maybe best not to get over scientific about this stuff. Use words like changing properties and no feathers get ruffled.

No feathers ruffled here fourbore, it was an honest inquiry as I have a couple of older frizzens and springs I want to treat and re-harden, just want to try and get it right the first time.
Urine has a lot of different stuff in it. Ghandi was said to have drank a small cup of his morning urine every day!

 

[Loyalist Dave]

But there are sometimes issues that are more basic. Diagnosing those is critical. Sort of like a patient that shows up at the doctors office. Step one is diagnosing what problems are presenting themselves. Seeing, listening, feeling are about all we have to diagnose issues preventing great function in a flintlock. Summarizing or cataloguing all the issues that could arise is challenging.

An excellent point. So to add to what I wrote, IF one does the polishing and there are still problems, seek out a lock expert. Because, often the "diagnosis" that I encounter from flintlock owners, is incorrect, and requires a trained hand to correct IF it were a correct identification of the problem. Polishing doesn't amplify the problem(s), but grinding springs, and Dremel-ing a tumbler when it's not needed often has negative results.

LD

 

[FlinterNick]

An excellent point. So to add to what I wrote, IF one does the polishing and there are still problems, seek out a lock expert. Because, often the "diagnosis" that I encounter from flintlock owners, is incorrect, and requires a trained hand to correct IF it were a correct identification of the problem. Polishing doesn't amplify the problem(s), but grinding springs, and Dremel-ing a tumbler when it's not needed often has negative results.

LD

I only Dremel the frizzen scratches out at low speed I wouldn’t hit the tumbler with anything other than a needle file.

for springs I’ve found that spreading and closing the arms works best. Grinding down a spring works, it’s a painstaking to get it right

 

[FlinterNick]

So you are indicating that the carbon is coming from the torch fuel and not the salt water?

no the carbon is from the compound that cooks into the face of the frizzen a type a surface hardening. The propane gas(blue container) with a High intensity torch head for some reason produces a heat level that gets a frizzen to a good hardness.

the salt water quench for medium to high carbon steels seems to enhance hardening not sure why .... but I’ve tried it and it seems to work ok.

ive never quenched in urine I don’t think I’ll try it I eat too much asparagus lol

 

[Griz44Mag]

no the carbon is from the compound that cooks into the face of the frizzen a type a surface hardening.

AHA! That's the part I misunderstood...

 

[Huntinshep]

If a person is not comfortable trying to remedy a problem, where would you send a lock to be fixed?

 

[FlinterNick]

If a person is not comfortable trying to remedy a problem, where would you send a lock to be fixed?

I use Jess Melot of the rifle shoppe; he slow but produces a fine tuned lock. Ive sent him a few locks I couldn’t figure out

 

[FlinterNick]

I contacted VTI gun parts some time back about an older Charleville Lock, they stock parts for pedersoli and Italian made guns. The gunsmith they use for all of their work is Lee Shavers out of Missouri. You can contact VTI gun parts directly for Lee’s information reference. Lee does very nice work.

 

[Griz44Mag]

I contacted VTI gun parts some time back about an older Charleville Lock, they stock parts for pedersoli and Italian made guns. The gunsmith they use for all of their work is Lee Shavers out of Missouri. You can contact VTI gun parts directly for Lee’s information reference. Lee does very nice work.

I did not know that. I have several sets of Mr. Shavers inserts. Good high quality.
Thanks,

 

[rich pierce]

Brad Emig is a master locksmith.