Where the world gathers for
plating, anodizing, & finishing Q&As since 1989

"Polishing black anodized steel parts"

-----

2004

My company recently had steel parts treated with black anodize. The parts came out somewhat dull in appearance and the customer was looking for more of a shinier look in the black anodize. Is there any way to add a shine to the parts? I tried heating the parts and then dipping them in oil. It seemed to work, but I was just wondering if there was any other procedure that might help.

Thanks,

Justin Casey
machinist - Manchester, Massachusetts

---

2004

It is very unlikely that the parts were black anodized because steel cannot be anodized. The treatment was propably black oxide. Oil will help, but may not give you a really shiny look if the treatment was a cold blackening as opposed to a genuine hot black oxide treatment.

Hot black oxide plus oil on a bead blasted surface will give you a dark, rich, black finish which looks from a little distance like black enamel. Polishing the steel to a bright finish before black oxiding will give you a deep onyx finish. Polishing after black oxide will probably remove the black oxide finish.

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