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-----Coloring of stainless steel (anodizing)
Current question:
May 24, 2021Q. Hello,
I am Etching colors onto stainless steel Art Panels.
I'm using [ed. note: supplier's name deleted at their request], etc., products. Are there solutions available to induce various colors onto the stainless steel surface. I have used heat to effect colors and appreciate any guidance. Thank you. JM
- Chicago Illinois
^ Reply to John_Mohrlein 's posting ^
May 2021
A. Hi John. Coloring of stainless steel is usually not done with dyes or pigments so there isn't one solution for red, another for blue, a third for green or anything like that. Rather, different thickness of the oxide coating give different colors, although PVD coatings and electrophoretic lacquer are also sometimes used.
We have hundreds of postings about coloring of stainless steel in this forum, not only on this thread, but topic 16927, topic 51079, topic 1039, topic 21437, topic 24520, topic 35735, etc. Please do a quick scan then follow up with your next question.
Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Aloha -- an idea worth spreading
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Closely related Q&A's, oldest first:
1997Q. Do you know how to produce interference colours over austenitic stainless steel by means of anodization (chemical oxidation)?
Thank You!
kobi shterenbergIsrael
1997
A. I believe International Nickel Corp. has a patent for coloring austenitic stainless steel using an electrical/chemical process.
Paul Vernon1998
Q. Yes I was just curious as to how can I anodize stainless steel. People have told me that it is impossible but I was wondering if it is after seeing your title. I am in the Paintball industry and one of the guns that are made are called AutoMags; the body of this gun is stainless steel. I would like to anodize it any color to show and sell. If you have any info on these I would appreciate it greatly. Thank you for your help.
Nathaniel Picklespaintball
1998
A. My company Prismatic Stainless Steel colors stainless with the INCO process. The colors available on 304 S/S are champagne, Bronze, Blue, Gold, Red/Green and black.
adv.
If you need further information, please feel free to e-mail me.
Regards,
To minimize search efforts and to offer multiple viewpoints, we combined previously separate threads onto this page. Please forgive any resultant repetition, failures of chronological order, or what may look like readers disrespecting previous responses -- those other responses may not have been on the page at the time :-)
Stainless coloring
2002Q. I have a customer that wants my company to mark or color some stainless steel hardware red. I have checked with the local plating companies that we use and they all laughed and said to offer paint as a substitute. Are there any dyes or other permanent marking materials/methods available?
Thanks.
Ed Morbitzer- Garland, Texas
2002
A. Permanent markings can be made using laser engraving. I've seen it done on SS license plate frames and surgical instruments. Check under engravers in the yellow pages.
Good luck!
specialty stainless steel distributor
Dallas, Texas
2002
A. International Nickel Co has processes for coloring stainless steel. Or Contact the Nickel Development Institute for information on coloring SS.
Don Baudrand
Consultant - Poulsbo, Washington
(Don is co-author of "Plating on Plastics" [affil link to the book on: Amazon or AbeBooks ])
To minimize search efforts and to offer multiple viewpoints, we combined previously separate threads onto this page. Please forgive any resultant repetition, failures of chronological order, or what may look like readers disrespecting previous responses -- those other responses may not have been on the page at the time :-)
2002
Q. A company in Japan describes their process for coloring stainless. "The surface of stainless steel is covered by a thin transparent film of metal oxide. When the thickness of the film is changed by P/10 to P/100 microns, the surface of the stainless steel can be seen beautifully with colors formed by the interference phenomenon of light. Using this process, various colors can be formed without painting or coloring. Depending on the viewing angle, the color changes slightly in appearance that cannot be obtained from any other process." What is this called and how might I locate a company in the US that colors patterns on stainless steel? (They reproduce artwork, not just solid color.) Is this different than anodizing aluminum? Any direction would be great, even getting the terminology right would be productive!
Thanks,
Erin Caruth- Ithaca, New York
A. Hi, Erin. Yes, anodizing of stainless steel is analogous to the anodizing of aluminum from the standpoint that the components are immersed in a solution and the electricity causes the formation of an oxide coating. But they are very different in terms of the coloration. You have described the situation for stainless steel, but anodized coatings on aluminum are much thicker and the color does not come from diffraction effects but from dye. You can learn more about anodizing of stainless steel from B&M Finishers / Prismatic Stainless Steel [a finishing.com supporting advertiser]. Good luck.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Aloha -- an idea worth spreading
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Coloring Stainless Steel
2003Q. I am trying to finish wind chimes that I make out of stainless steel (for longevity). I am bored with the brushed and polished looks. Want to try coloring the steel. Is there a process I can do that would be similar to parkerizing, or anodizing(like Al). Any help would be appreciated.
P.S. paint gets chipped off, too much upkeep.
Alan Masonhobbyist - Kannapolis, North Carolina, United States
2003
A. You can try heat coloring them ... just use a torch with a clean flame to heat them up. The colors are limited but nice in my opinion.. You can get browns, copper, near gold, yellowish, purple, light blue, blue, etc. I don't know how in depth you get with the tone of the chimes but heating it may change the tone a bit. I think I also recall an advertiser on this website offering steel coloring services. Might look into that
Jason Aube- Flint, Michigan
Chocolate brown coloring of stainless steel not working
2003Q. Dear Sir,
We want to know the exact process for stainless steel colouring (Chocolate brown) We have tried the process in the following manner but not succeeded.
1) D/c rectifier used
2) volt : 1-2
3) Current : 6Amp / dm2
4) Mixture : 2.5M CrO3 + 5M H2SO4 of aqueous solution
5) Time : 5 Minutes
6) Anode : Job
7) Cathode : Lead Plate
Kindly give the exact process.
P. GANESANElectroplating - Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
2003
Q. I'm interested in producing electrochemically coloured stainless steel and would like to find out more about the process used.
Clifford van LelyveldPrivate enquiry - Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Color treatment for stainless steel watches
2004Q. Hello everyone,
I'm a designer for a watchmaking company in Paris. I don't have any in depth chemical or physical knowledge.
We are interested in coloring stainless steel watch cases. So far we have used PVD but although it is excellent quality process (it lasts long) we have just a limited choice for colors: gold, pink gold, black, gun black, blue...
We are trying lacquer on stainless steel but it comes off very easily after a while. Can anyone can give me some up-to-date on what treatment would be suitable if I want to color steel in a fairly wide range of color? Thanks a lot for your help.
Best regards.
David A [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]watchmaking - PARIS, FRANCE
A. An additional alternative might be anodic coloring. B&M Finishers offers the Prismatic process for stainless steel. Good luck.
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Aloha -- an idea worth spreading
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Chemical Coloring Stainless Steel Screws
2004Q. I am having some difficulty in locating information to plating Stainless Steel Screws to achieve a Weathered Brass Finish. We may also go to a Natural Brass Finish as well. Is there any source I can contact or any information any one can give on plating Stainless Steel Screws?
Rob SiedschlagOutdoor Brass & Copper Lighting Fixture Manufacturer - Escondido, California, United States
2004
A. Several different technologies are available. First, the screws can be brass plated; this is similar to plating onto steel screws except that a different preplate cycle is required, which includes a nickel strike to activate the substrate. A second possibility is color anodization of the stainless steel. Third, a brass colored translucent electrophoretic lacquer can be applied to the screws.
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Aloha -- an idea worth spreading
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
To minimize search efforts and to offer multiple viewpoints, we combined previously separate threads onto this page. Please forgive any resultant repetition, failures of chronological order, or what may look like readers disrespecting previous responses -- those other responses may not have been on the page at the time :-)
Colouring of Stainless Steel
2004How stainless steel can be coloured? Please let me know the availability of the book "Metal Colouring" by David Fishlock. Thank you. C
C.K.RAVEENDHRANmetal finishing - COIMBATORE, TN, India
2004
A. Try Abebooks website!
Goran Budija- Zagreb, Croatia
2004
A. Stainless steel can be colored via an INCO anodization process but, as far as I know, this is still proprietary. B&M Finishers is one supplier of the coloring services for stainless steel.
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Aloha -- an idea worth spreading
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2004
A. Stainless steel usually don't change any color. However, if the surface plating is broken, I think it is out of control at that time, but may plating it again.
Frank Zhao- Taicang, Jiangsu, China
Stainless steel coloring without electrical power
2006Q. Dear Sir,
I want to find out how can I make Stainless steel coloring without electrical power. If you know some way to do so please send my these ways or you can guide me to some place to find some books or some researches in this matter.
Best regards,
E-Med - Cairo, Egypt
2006
A. Stainless steel can be black oxided, Mohamed. If black would satisfy you, please search this site for "black oxide stainless". Good luck.
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Aloha -- an idea worth spreading
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Looking for products to color stainless steel - bright vibrant colors
2007Q. I would like to add color to stainless steel faces that I am creating. Have seen various artists at art shows who are coloring their stainless steel in vibrant shades - virtually every color conceivable. You can almost still see the metal through the color.
Can you help me figure out the technique?
Thank you.
Artist - Gainesville, Florida, USA
2007
A. What you are seeing are the use of automotive transparent lacquers. Most likely, you can check out any auto big box store and in the can section. There will be a number of colors and brands: VHT is one.
You also can go to Eastwood's site. They are an auto hobbyist supplier with an info laden site about their products. The item is then top coated with a clear.
You also can use a transparent colored powder coat.
I tested some of the Harbor Freight's colored sockets and wrenches they started selling. First by soaking in lacquer thinner
[affil. link to info/product on Amazon]
, after 50 minutes the clear started to bubble up and off the socket. Then the color would transfer to the rag.
I also did some scratch test with auto sanding papers, files and a piece of square steel stock for a nick test. They all damaged the surface finish readily.
You can go to this thread to see the pictures of the sockets and tests. At Sculpture.com it is in the sculpture news and events forum.
It is a somewhat fragile coating, as it nicks and scratches quite easily. The powder coating would be a tougher finish.
metal fabricator/artist - Mount Clemens, Michigan
Coloring 18-8 stainless steel red
May 15, 2008Q. Do you know of any finish that can be done, other than paint, to 18-8 stainless steel that is the color red?
JOHN A BECKERJOB SHOP - COLUMBIA, NJ
August 9, 2008
A. Stainless steel can be anodized to red colour. You can use proprietary process or you can make your own solution.Try uspto .gov website -there you can find some expired patents on colouring of SS.Hope it helps and good luck!
Goran Budija- Zagreb, Croatia
Coloring electropolished stainless steel
October 19, 2011Q. I am currently exploring 304 Stainless Steel, which I forge in my studio. In order to get the best finish possible I am sending it away for electropolishing. Does anyone have advice on coloring electropolished steel?
I primarily need to color parts black for contrast, similar to bluing or heat darkening steel.
Would heat darkening electropolished steel ruin the protection it offers? (I've read that bluing solutions simply do not work on stainless steel)
Is there a homemade chemical process I can use?
If painting is the only solution, must I rough up the surface for it to hold properly and, if so, will roughing it up with sandpaper ruin the electropolished surface?
Thanks!!
Sculptor - Fort Myers, Florida
October 21, 2011
A. Try next download free booklet on metals coloring:
attachments.wetpaintserv.us/ZLSnLKosv0l3CnE9hGDi7w488720
There you can find small chapter on stainless steel coloring (by heat, chemically, electrochemically). Hope it helps and good luck!
Goran Budija- Zagreb, Croatia
----
Ed. note Jan 2017: Although wetpaintserv.us was a legitimate site when Goran posted it, it now appears to be a malware site. Don't go there!
Goran has been kind enough to upload his booklet to https://www.finishing.com/library/budija/budija.pdf.
October 21, 2011
A. There are formulations of "bluing" solutions that will work on stainless steel. I have used them on products that are exposed to the elements (planters etc) without issue. They contain nitric acid, though and so will etch the surface and you will loose any glossiness you might have obtained by electropolishing.
EPI (Electrochemical Products Inc.) [a finishing.com supporting advertiser] makes a product called Instablak 333. You may want to consider shopping it out, as it takes a bit of practice to get an attractive result.
Regards,
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Hobbyist options for colouring stainless steel
May 6, 2015Q. I am interested in D-I-Y finishing options for stainless steel.
I'm particularly impressed by using electrochemical anodizing processes on titanium in combination with masking techniques to create things such as this:
Over the course of the last week I have been reading a lot about processes to colour stainless steels, the INCO method and its successor.
affil. link
"Stainless Steels: An Introduction and Their Recent Developments"
from Abe Books
or
I found a very interesting ebook (Stainless Steels: An Introduction and Their Recent Developments =>
detailing processes. I've since found out that heat colouring might hurt hardened steel and the oxidization process alters the steel composition below the oxide layer. But electrochemical colouring does not have these drawbacks if I understand correctly and by using masking agents one can effectively create patterns/shapes/forms when using electrochemical colouring process. This can't be done using heat colouring approaches, correct?
I'm no chemist and english is my second language, so I've come here to ask if I have options as a hobbyist to colour stainless steel through electrochemical process. I am worried for example the chemicals used aren't over the counter available. Like the online readily available anodizing solutions for titanium and aluminum. It's important to me it is a do it yourself option.
Jan Jansen
Hobbyist - Groningen, The Netherlands
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Ed. note: Additional threads about coloring/anodizing of stainless steel include topics 16927, 21437, and 24520
adv.
