Stainless blackening/bluing

dussandr · December 1, 2010, 11:24 AM

I did a search on 'blacken stainless' and read the resulting threads. I am curious if anyone has any pics of stainless that has been refinished this way? Not coatings, but via chemical process.
Thanks in advance.

James K · December 1, 2010, 09:09 PM

Basically, "bluing", "browning" and "blackening" are simply refined rust, and the whole intent of stainless steel is that it is highly rust resistant. I have seen several products that do work to chemically blacken stainless steel (not paints) but the gunshop products I have tried don't work any better than cold blue works on regular steel. The darkening lasts for a while but will rub right off in a short time.

Factories do blue stainless steel barrels, but seem to keep the process a closely guarded secret. The problem has been gotten around in other ways, among them anodizing (yes, it works with steel as well as with aluminum), and plating the steel with iron, then bluing the iron. Neither is really a DIY type of operation.

Jim

George R · December 2, 2010, 10:18 AM

I hot blue stainless, and I think Ford's is now doing it. Not a big secret. The salts are available from DuLite and Brownells.

Buzzard Bait · December 2, 2010, 05:04 PM

I think factory Remington 700 rifles in magnum calibers have stainless barrels but are in some way blued to match the rest of the rifle
bb

**Unclenick** · December 3, 2010, 01:01 PM

Brownells Oxynate 84. It is for bluing stainless and cast iron. But it is a hot bluing method, so you need to be equipped for hot bluing to use it.

I've got a gallon of cold black for stainless, but a kind of charcoal gray is all I ever get out of it. Abrasive blasting helps, but on polished stainless it is pretty disappointing. I got it for coloring screws to match a panel originally, but wasn't pleased by the results.

rattletrap1970 · December 3, 2010, 01:50 PM

There is a place in New Britain CT. Called "Black oxide". I had them do an AMT Hardballer Longslide. They did a great job and it lasted a long time.

James K · December 3, 2010, 02:13 PM

Black chrome is another method, but it is plating, not a chemical treatment.

Jim

December 1, 2010, 11:24 AM	#1
dussandr Member Join Date: March 15, 2009 Posts: 36	Stainless blackening/bluing I did a search on 'blacken stainless' and read the resulting threads. I am curious if anyone has any pics of stainless that has been refinished this way? Not coatings, but via chemical process. Thanks in advance. __________________ Taste the wares, Email.

December 2, 2010, 10:18 AM	#3
George R Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 151	Hot Blue Stainless Steel I hot blue stainless, and I think Ford's is now doing it. Not a big secret. The salts are available from DuLite and Brownells. __________________ http://www.gunblue.homestead.com

December 2, 2010, 05:04 PM	#4
Buzzard Bait Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 502	rem 700 magnum calibers I think factory Remington 700 rifles in magnum calibers have stainless barrels but are in some way blued to match the rest of the rifle bb

December 3, 2010, 01:01 PM	#5
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	Brownells Oxynate 84. It is for bluing stainless and cast iron. But it is a hot bluing method, so you need to be equipped for hot bluing to use it. I've got a gallon of cold black for stainless, but a kind of charcoal gray is all I ever get out of it. Abrasive blasting helps, but on polished stainless it is pretty disappointing. I got it for coloring screws to match a panel originally, but wasn't pleased by the results. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

December 1, 2010, 09:09 PM	#2
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Basically, "bluing", "browning" and "blackening" are simply refined rust, and the whole intent of stainless steel is that it is highly rust resistant. I have seen several products that do work to chemically blacken stainless steel (not paints) but the gunshop products I have tried don't work any better than cold blue works on regular steel. The darkening lasts for a while but will rub right off in a short time. Factories do blue stainless steel barrels, but seem to keep the process a closely guarded secret. The problem has been gotten around in other ways, among them anodizing (yes, it works with steel as well as with aluminum), and plating the steel with iron, then bluing the iron. Neither is really a DIY type of operation. Jim

December 3, 2010, 01:50 PM	#6
rattletrap1970 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2009 Location: Torrington, CT. USA Posts: 299	There is a place in New Britain CT. Called "Black oxide". I had them do an AMT Hardballer Longslide. They did a great job and it lasted a long time.

December 3, 2010, 02:13 PM	#7
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Black chrome is another method, but it is plating, not a chemical treatment. Jim