Accidental tempering with hair dryer?

[Palehorseman]

I have cheapo Harbor Freight heat gun and can solder with it.

 

[fletcher]

It depends on the tempering temperature used for the steel part as to whether it will be affected. Short duration exposures up to the tempering temperature will have no substantial effect. As an example, if the part was tempered at 600F, the temperature would have to be higher before there's a concern of permanent changes to properties.

The relatively low temperature of a hairdryer (140F or so) combined with likely use of higher tempering temperatures (guns get hot, afterall) means there's really no chance the steel was harmed.

 

[tekarra]

A hair dryer never get anything hot enough to change the temper of any metal.

Some lead - tin alloys will undergo metallurgical changes at room temperature. Don't encounter these alloys in firearms though.

 

[nickdiazfan209]

I'm ashamed to say I know from experience that it can melt the rubber bantam grips on a jframe. Well it didn't melt them per se, but definitely started to smooth the texture a bit on one side haha.

 

[B!ngoFuelUSN]

Buy a compressor and use that to clean and dry your gun. You need a compressor anyway, right? You know you do. For tires and stuff, Dear.

This is actually a great suggestion. Like the finish of a cherished car, you really don't want water to dry on the firearm, you want it disbursed. Water, particularly rainwater contains a lot of other chemicals and minerals that can turn the water acidic if much of it evaporates (from the dryer) but some is left behind. A compressor to really blast off the moisture is the way to go. And they are darn handy for lots of other uses.
B

 

[Jaymo]

You're not going to get that AR barrel to red heat without bursting it.
It simply not contain that level of pressure at red heat.
Also, that level of heat would destroy your upper and lower. aluminum gets hot short around 700 deg F.
Plus, your ammo would cook off at a much lower temp.

It's like my buddy's dad's BS about shooting their M60s until the barrels were white hot in 'Nam.
Complete BS and physically impossible.
Steel simply cannot contain the pressure at forging temps.

 

[Reloadron]

It's like my buddy's dad's BS about shooting their M60s until the barrels were white hot in 'Nam.
Complete BS and physically impossible.
Steel simply cannot contain the pressure at forging temps.

Check out the video of an M60 cooking right along. They did not get "white hot" but they would glow cherry red.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGAwrmOapb4

Ron