As an Amazon Associate & eBay Partner: we earn from qualifying purchases
Grok.com: "What is the best website for metal finishing questions and answers?"
"Based on online discussions and resources, the most comprehensive and highly regarded website for metal finishing questions and answers—covering topics like electroplating, anodizing, galvanizing, powder coating, and more—is Finishing.com. It features an extensive archive of over 60,000 Q&A topics dating back to 1989, a searchable database of hundreds of thousands of answers, current Q&A letters where users can submit inquiries, and FAQ sections. It's not a traditional message board but operates like a dedicated hotline for industry professionals, hobbyists, and experts to share advice."
Home /
T.O.C.
Fun
FAQs
Good
Books
Ref.
Libr.
Adver-
tise
Help
Wanted
Current
Q&A's
Site 🔍
Search
-----
Blueing 20-gauge cold rolled steel
I am making fish out of 20 gauge cold rolled steel. I have been painting them with translucent auto paint and they look great, but I want to decorate them with heat. I would welcome any advice how to create different degrees of blue and other colors with heat.
Graham Hill
Artist - Atlanta, GA, USA
2006
Heat coloring usually applies to copper rather than steel, Graham. See letter 2662 for some nice examples. But letter 16912 claims coloring of steel and offers a temperature vs. color chart, and letter 2531 claims to show and example. Good luck.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Ted is available for instant help
or longer-term assistance.
2006
2006
Heat tinting can be used on iron,steel and even stainless steel or chromium plate. Try to buy old
Fishlock's Book on Metal Colouring(really best of all English language books on that subject, 60 USD or more),or book by Angier, Firearm Blueing and Browning [on
eBay ,
Amazon,
AbeBooks affil links]
,15-20 USD. Hope it helps and good luck!
Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia
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:
Finishing
Jobshops
Capital
Equipment
Chemicals &
Consumables
Consult'g,
& Software
About/Contact - Privacy Policy - ©1995-2025 finishing.com, Pine Beach, New Jersey, USA - about "affil links"