No passwords, no registration, no paywalls, no popups, no AI

As an Amazon Associate & eBay Partner we earn from affil links

finishing.com -- The Home Page of the Finishing Industry

Search our quarter-million Q&As

Home of the finishing HOTLINE since 1989

-----

Bluing steel

In order to "blue" steel, what type of oil (if any) should be used? Am I correct in assuming an "oily rag" would be sufficient to do the job? What temperature does the steel need to be in order to obtain the best effect?

Pierre Charbonneau
- Limehouse, Ontario, Canada
2002

2002

Pierre,

Regular "hot" bluing is done with a caustic soda ⇦liquid caustic soda in bulk on Amazon [affil link] solution (or others) of around 300 °F. Some "case hardening" is done by heating the metal and quenching in oil, but this will normally produce various colors on the metal. I hope this helps.

Ed Kay
- St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Sorry! Finishing.com is temporarily Read-Only.
Ted Mooney is retiring but I have several offers to take it over.
We're working hard to make sure we find it the best new home.

Disclaimer: It's not possible to fully diagnose a finishing problem or the hazards of an operation via these pages. All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. The internet is largely anonymous & unvetted; some names may be fictitious and some recommendations might be harmful.

If you are seeking a product or service related to metal finishing, please check these Directories: