Andrew,

You can have some of the Durabar, not problem, I'll bring it to Toledo.

Leaded steel was developed to reduce machining and tooling costs, that why manufacturers use it. They usually put it through a burnout heat treatment at minimum. However since you've had success with it maybe I'll give it another shot. The thing is that for the most part I raid the scrap bin at work for drops, soI take what I get. Every now and then I get some 4140, or 8620, good for shafts, and have even scored a bit of 7075-T6. tough alloy that I may play with for ABC or ABN pistons.

The gun bluing isn't a commercial formula, you can buy it at any gun shop or sporting goods stores that handle guns, fairy cheap too, I think I paid 5$ US for 4 OZ an that will treat allot of parts. Any chemical coating on soft steel is easy to nick, but with the liquid bluing its easy to touch up. Don't know what it would do on leaded steel.

Oy, another diesel, man you really know how to get my attention. I am already excited, can't wait.

Next project, Skyburner! I really want to get that done to do some flight testing this summer. If it works out I may need some more castings.