What is the brown colouring on the hand reamers ?

[Brian JohnParticipant @brianjohn93961]

What is that brown colouring on hand reamers ? It must be something in the manufacturing process as all the hand reamers I have purchased have it.

[Brian JohnParticipant @brianjohn93961]

Rust coloured paint ?

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Do you mean the protective wax like cover – we used to call it Crocell (probably spelt wrong) which could be re-melted and used for other tools etc. These blokes make a similar product.
**LINK**
BobH

[MWParticipant @mw27036]

I think it's aged preservative, some do change to a yellowish brown/ burn't colour as they age. As the last thing anyone wants is a rusty reamer! 

Michael W

Edited By Michael Walters on 10/07/2016 18:24:06

[Tim StevensParticipant @timstevens64731]

I have noticed that photos of steel tools taken by amateurs like me can emphasise any rust marks or age-browning. This is (I think) because the camera software is set to 'balance' the colours, and looks for sensible balance of red, green and blue (etc). When the item is steel, and the background is grey or blue or green, any hint of brownish on the steel will be emphasised, and come out looking badly rusted. And our colleagues the printers know no different, they print what they are sent.

Perhaps those of our readers with fancy cameras they know how to work can comment?

Regards, Tim
(looking, as ever, a bit rusty round the edges)

[Brian JohnParticipant @brianjohn93961]

This photo shows what I mean :

**LINK**

All the reamers I have bought have it. No other tools or metal parts I have purchased do have it. It seems to be a reamers-only thing !

Edited By Brian John on 11/07/2016 17:57:02

Edited By Brian John on 11/07/2016 17:57:36

[Stuart BridgerParticipant @stuartbridger82290]

Slight OT, but "new and unused" doesn't fit that photo

[Steamer1915Participant @steamer1915]

Just looks like the brown colour that is left after heat treatment. Perhaps done in a vacuum.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

That reamer looks like it may be the special type of HSS that's made out of carbon steel… though I could be wrong.

Neil

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