Permanent black marker for aluminum? Information on Alumablack

A. I don't know about Alumablack, but people have been "touching up" black anodize with a felt tip marker for years, the same way you "touch up" zinc plating with a can of silver spray paint. Neither one is the real thing, and both indicate a broader quality control problem.

A. Metal Finishing Guidebook says that is a product of Birchwood Laboratories in Eden Prarie MN.

A. James Watts is indeed correct. The product that you named is a room temperature blackening solution for aluminum. I have personally not used it. However, I have used the products that company makes for room temperature blackening of steel, and found them to be excellent.

Ed Budman 
- Pennsylvania
With deep sadness we advise that our friend Ed passed away Nov. 24, 2018

A. I had some many years ago that was significantly out of date. By using it for a short application time, it did a great job of touching up OD chromate. Yes, I know , that was not the proper application, but some times strange things work.

A. Room temperature blackening solution can be used to touch up black anodize like brown shoe polish can be used to touch up chocolate frosting on a cake. Just hope that the end user doesn't call on that area of the coating to perform to expectations.

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On second thought, I think I'll skip dessert, waitress.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

A. The product you are looking for is Alumablack. It is manufactured by Birchwood Casey and is available wherever guns or gun accessories are sold. It is used to darken worn or scraped aluminum gun parts. I have used a similar product made by the Birchwood Casey folks called Perma Blue and Super Perma Blue for steel gun parts and have had mixed results. I have a feeling I am not applying it properly.