"....Does anyone have a case colorer to recommend who is fast in the turnaround? I am trying to avoid Classic Guns in Illinois after what happened with the 95 Marlin I sent them,...."
What happened with Classic Guns if I can ask?
The engraving looks beautiful. Just right for the rifle.
FWIW,,Most any nitrate salt will work for 'nitre blue',,potassium, sodium, ammonium (as well as does molten lead.)
The 'salts' are easier to work with as they are clear when molten and you can easily look down in and see the results.
Any of the nitrates in their crude form of fertilizers or other garden use compounds works ok. As long as they melt when heated at under the required temp needed to color the steel what you want and you have a decent thermometer to trax the temp of the pot.
You don't need a big batch of the stuff for small stuff like screws and pins.
Be very careful with it. It'll burn thru most any protective clothing you wear and then continue thru your skin.
ANY water/moisture introduced into it will produce a violent explosion of 700F+ salts all over you. You will wear the scars of it for the rest of your life. Double eye protection ALWAYS when handling this stuff.
It's just a heat blue done in the absence of the free O2 of the atmosphere.
