Removing flush broken points / PVD removal

[Ni518079]

So this is a little experiment I did months ago to try and remove a broken point from a barrel when it is too close to pull. During this experiment I found out it is a good way to remove PVD coating as well (only tried black so far but should work the same).

So I cut the point of my Dellar's, I wasn't liking them anyway. Close as I could get with a hack saw.

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You will need a heat proof container, some vinegar, salt, hot water and/or microwave, wires, gator clips, spare piece of steel or copper, and a battery or dc converter. (6 volts works best , 9 is fine too). Paper towels, q tips, and the likes.

Batteries are easier but die quickly.

Note: If you use a dc converter like a cut phone charger, run the positive to a small computer fan or something then the negative off the fan to the dart barrel. That will prevent shorts as it will use the current.

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Fill the container up with the following mixture. This is what I used for the size I had. 6oz Vinegar, 2oz water, about 4 table spoons salt. Then heat it, just hot not boiling. Connect the negative lead to the spare piece of metal and put it in the solution. Make sure the clip itself isn't in the water because it will dissolve in about 2 minutes. Connect the positive lead to the barrel. Put the barrel in the water, again leave the clip above the surface.

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This is when I realized that is will remove PVD coatings. As soon as I placed it in the solution it fizzed and all the black was gone. Literally a second. The steel takes a bit longer. The picture above you can see the rust color on top, that is the steel dissolving. The closer the barrel is to the metal the better, but do not let them touch.

After an hour and a change out for fresh solution I got impatient. Also my 1st 9 volt (not fresh) died I switched to a 6 volt lantern battery. Then another hour got impatient again and switched techniques to something I do to etch blades. Same process just a cotton swab or cloth soaked in solution connected to negative, barrel still on positive and rub the steel with it. Make sure the metals don't touch just the saturated fabric to the metal.

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After a total of three hours (I gave up as the lantern battery died, also not fresh) I dissolved about 5 mm of point. I feel if I was committed I could have done this all in 3 hours with 2 fresh batteries. But it works to dissolve points and apparently PVD coatings.

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Sorry I didn't take more pics, or finish the whole process but I can answer any questions if you got em.

Also you may notice the barrels look dirty, that is just residual rust from the water. However they do have a little hue , like burnt titanium I assume comes from the PVD heat treatment on the tungsten.

[Regulatori]

Very cool. I have a set of John Part Golden Hero's that lost part of the coating. I really have nothing to lose so I'll try this expirement this weekend with a gold set and see if I get similar results. They have no broken points...I just want the finish to be bare tungsten.

+1

[Getagrip]

Thats awesome Dr Nickenstein!!

Very clever and a great way to remove the coating if thats what you want Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

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[Cankles of Fury]

Huge +1 if I ever have a point break in a Natural tungsten set I'll try this for sure, huge +1!

[Ni518079]

Not dart related but you can use it to etch anything steel, even stainless. When I was in culinary school I put my initials on my knives permanently. I just painted part of it with nail polish and scraped away the design I wanted. You can use wax or anything waterproof. Then do the q tip technique over the bare area. Then just use acetone to remove the paint when done. I also do designs on some of the tomahawks I customize with vinyl stencils. Then sand the stencil away after.

[nimrod33]

i usually use a blowtorch. Heat dart for a while, the put in cold water. Most times point pops out. Some need a few attempts but haven't had one not come out yet.

[Ni518079]

i usually use a blowtorch. Heat dart for a while, the put in cold water. Most times point pops out. Some need a few attempts but haven't had one not come out yet.

How does that effect a barrel with a coating?

[Cankles of Fury]

i usually use a blowtorch. Heat dart for a while, the put in cold water. Most times point pops out. Some need a few attempts but haven't had one not come out yet.

Very Interesting, I too would like to know how it affects a coating

[Regulatori]

I know heat will turn gold coated darts blue/pink/purple/green. I tried the heat method using a propane torch and also a commercial grade gas oven. My gold darts took on almost a Unicorn "DNA" type hue.

[Regulatori]

I tried this experiment above with mixed results using my John Part Golden Hero's (one section is worn off one and I want all 3 to have uniform non-gold/tungsten finish).

I followed every step and using an old 5-6v cell phone charger that's been cut/alligator clips clipped on the exposed wires. I'm using a steel bolt for the negative/ground.

The barrel will sizzle soon as it hits the water but nothing really happens. After an hour or so I'll pull the barrel out and it will look it's been charred black (like charred chicken skin). The "charred" substance is just metal that seems to come off whatever I'm using as my grounding source. I first used a non-galvanized steel nail as a ground and it literally sizzled down to a small thin wire within an hour.

So I'll pull this "charred" barrel out and then use a scotch brite pad ( https://media.qcsupply.com/catalog/produ...4_1__1.jpg ) to remove the black crusty substance.

Underneath is a bright shiny gold barrel like it hasn't been touched. I know the charred material is just steel that's coming off the steel bolt/nail I'm using as a ground because I'll put a small magnet next to the barrel and a lot of the black stuff will attach itself to the magnet.

What exactly am I doing incorrectly? I thought this would zap the gold coating right off. Do I need more voltage?

I could post a picture of the black substance on the dart.

[Milkysunshine]

From the sounds of it... You might have had the leads reversed?

[Ni518079]

Yeah sounds reversed. You put the positive on the barrel and the negative on the nail?

[Ni518079]

Did you try switching them?????????????????????

[Regulatori]

I'll try in a bit.

[Ni518079]

The suspense is killing me! :feedme: