Blue Steel Barrettes

Needed

Two:
Steel washers
Wood Nails
Paper clips

Step 1: Make an oval

Take a washer and hammer it on it’s edge. The washer will start to take on an oval shape. At the same time the washer will begin to fold in half. When this happens, lay it down and hammer it flat again.

Go back and forth between hammering the washer on it’s edge and hammering it flat again until you have the shape you want.

Comments

[domestic_engineer]

awesome! would it be better to oxidize before soldering, that way you don't have to remove the clip and worry about the solder melting off?

[Mrballeng]

You could but the your more likely to get an irregular finish because when you solder the barrette it will be face down on something an pick up impurities on that surface.

[Kryptonite]

Would having it on smooth scrap wood still have that issue?

[Mrballeng]

I thinks so, since the temperature would be different as the surface got closer to the wood while applying the flame. But that's just a guess.

[Kryptonite]

Good point, I believe your method would be best.

[canucksgirl]

Great result. :)

I really like the color you got. Also, thanks for posting the information you found relative to the colors (to brooklynlord's question).

[brooklynlord]

Do all types of steel oxidise like that?

I was really interested in the oxidising part...

Also, does oxidising it make it harder?

[Mrballeng]

Here's what I found at this web site. It shows what temperature for what color steel. Looks like I heated theses to 570 degrees. I don't know about hardness though. I sure it's on the web.

anvilfire.com Steel Temper Colors
Plain Carbon Steel Only - Hardness Rockwell C
English Color Text Fahrenheit Color Celsius SAE
1040 SAE
1050 SAE
1070 SAE
1095
Clear - As fully hardened 100° 38° 54 59 64 67
Pale yellow 2 420° 216° 51 55 59 63
Very pale yellow 1 430° 221°
Light yellow 1, 2, Straw 3 440° 227°
Pale straw-yellow 1, Straw 3 450° 232° 50 54
Straw-yellow 1, 2 460° 238° 62
Deep straw-yellow 1, 3 470° 243°
Dark yellow 1, Light orange 3 480° 249° 58
Yellow-brown 1, Orange 3 490° 254° 49 53 61
Brown-yellow 1, 3, Bronze 2 500° 260°
Spotted red-brown 1, Dark Brown 2 510° 266°
Brown with purple spots 1, 2 520° 271° 52 57
Light purple 1, 2, Purple 3 530° 277° 48 60
Full purple 1, Purple 2 540° 282°
Dark purple 1 550° 288°
Full blue 1, 3 560° 293° 47 51 56 59
Dark blue 1, Blue 2 570° 299°
Dark blue 2 590° 310° 58
Pale blue 3 46 50 55
Light blue 2 610° 321°
Greenish blue 2, Grey 3 630° 332° 45 54 57
Light blue 1 640° 338°
Steel grey 2 650° 343° 44 47 53 56
Steel grey 700° 371° 42 46 51 54
750° 400° 40 44 50 52
800° 427° 38 42 47 49
900° 482° 35 37 43 44
Lowest visible red 1000° 538° 30 32 36 39
English Colour Text Fahrenheit Colour Celsius SAE
1040 SAE
1050 SAE
1070 SAE
1095
Converted temps. rounded to nearest degree. Hardness +/- 1Rc @ +/-5°F of published data.

[higginbo]

I believe those last 2-4 numbers for each color are supposed to be the hardness numbers for 1040, 1050, 1070, and 1095 respectively.

If I remember correctly, those steels would all be plain carbon steel with the last two numbers representing the carbon content. (1040 is 0.4% carbon, 1050 is 0.5% carbon, etc.) However, I'm not sure what treatment these numbers refer to, as how you cool the steel is at least as important as how hot you heat it.

That said, the treatment mrballeng is doing probably does affect the hardness, though I'm not sure which way.

[OutdoorGirl16196]

Where did you get the 1000 and 2000 grit sandpaper? I've been looking at hardware stores, and cant find any.

[Mrballeng]

Go to wal-mart or autozone. Look in the auto paint isles.

[mslaynie]

WOW. This is such a lot of work for a couple of barrettes, but OMG how CUTE!!! I really like these. How well do they hold the hair? I worry that the weight would pull them free, especially in straight hair, but they're so adorable.

You do beautiful work!

[Mrballeng]

My wife said they hold hair well but she hasn't worn them for more than a few minutes. I made these more so for the sake of challenge to myslelf. Thanks for the comment.