Joe- The hardenability of steel can be increased by adding either carbon (carburizing) or nitrogen (nitriding), or both (carbo-nitriding). There are many ways of doing either of these. Cyanide offers both carbon and nitrogen. While some other materials might absorb the cyanide molecules, the iron in the steel bonds with the carbon and nitrogen atoms themselves, breaking up the cyanide molecules. Perhaps this is the source of their confusion. However, any shop that turns away business because of this misguided fear probably won't be in business very long. Bob ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe Bauman" <bau@desnews.com> To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Sunday, October 31, 2004 7:59 PM Subject: Re: OT Re: [Utah-astronomy] Surveyor Tripod Adapter
Yikes, I hope I didn't just shoot off my mouth and say something stupid -- wouldn't be the first time. My impression is that cyanide is used in hardening steel and that it can be released by cutting it. Maybe I'm wrong. Or maybe it's not a significant hazard. I tried to get my tripod legs cut down a year or so ago and one of the places I went said there was a problem because of cyanide. I had already had that impression, too, but I'm not sure where I got it in the first place. Other than that I don't know much. Best wishes, Joe
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