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  for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Surface rust from thermal deburr

We thermal deburr shafts before heat treating them. The thermal deburr process leaves the parts with some surface rust. For the most part this is not a problem since a majority of the shaft is hard machined. However, the rolled threads are not touched again leaving the finished part with rusty threads. Is this a common problem with thermal deburring? Is there problem with our process that we can avoid the rust?

Todd Brown
Automotive - Batavia, Ohio, USA
2005

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I'm not an expert in this field; however, I am not sure that what you are seeing is exactly rust. Most residue from thermal deburring comes from the fuel used to create the heat/combustion and results in the form of carbon.

AF Kenton
retired business owner - Hatboro, Pennsylvania
2005