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Author Topic: blacken steel bolts  (Read 1541 times)

howardspary

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blacken steel bolts
« on: July 05, 2019, 06:14:39 pm »

hi all


i would like to blacken the steel bolts and nuts that hold the staunchions to the kick boards on my tamar
is there a simple and effective  method to a simple method
 i can use
any help would be appeciated


h spary
midships
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grendel

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Re: blacken steel bolts
« Reply #1 on: July 06, 2019, 06:44:32 am »

I seem to recall heating them in an oil bath achieves this, but may also soften the steel, there are chemicals you can but to get this finish, or just buy the bolts black to start with.
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grendel

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Re: blacken steel bolts
« Reply #2 on: July 06, 2019, 06:50:53 am »

whatever method you use i would advise testing on one bolt first as if they are plated it may not work.
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imsinking

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Re: blacken steel bolts
« Reply #3 on: July 06, 2019, 09:37:24 am »

That process is called PARKERISING an anti corrosion treatment, you could also consider gun barrel bluing , thats just a wipe on chemical , the more times you do it the darker it gets . . . as said tho may not work on plated bolts .
Bill
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clockworks

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Re: blacken steel bolts
« Reply #4 on: July 06, 2019, 10:12:11 am »

Heating to dull red and dunking in oil, then reheating and dunking again works well to blacken steel. The first heating will make the steel go blue (shade depends on how hot it gets), the second pass leaves a black deposit on top. Make sure that the parts are free from oil before the first heating - even fingerprints can mess up the finish.


Doing the same with plated parts will often just give a straw colour, or no change at all.
Stainless steel gives very unpredictable results - depends on the exact alloy.




As suggested above, try it on one part first
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Terry

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Re: blacken steel bolts
« Reply #5 on: July 06, 2019, 11:02:45 am »

In my experience old oil from a diesel motor works best.
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SteamboatPhil

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Re: blacken steel bolts
« Reply #6 on: July 07, 2019, 02:30:44 pm »

Heating to dull red and dunking in whale oil works very well, although probably not very PC these days,( and the smell is something else) I just happen to have half gallon from my late fathers workshop.


Of course old engine oil works well  :-))
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