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Want to Know Complete Process of Blackening

December 1, 2010

Hello, I manufacture various machine parts of ferrous metal,. I have to make them good black finish. For this a large amount is paid outside every month. Now I want an in-house facility
for blackening of parts. But I have no knowledge of any chemical process.

So please tell me a detailed process, equipment required and required specific chemicals for blackening.

Thanks

Praveen Sharma
product manufacturer - India

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Hi, Praveen

We have an FAQ on Black Oxide here, but it's only a beginning, and you can find more in the Metal Finishing Guidebook. But for a question of such depth you would need to retain a consultant or get advice from the suppliers, including those shown in the banner near the bottom of the page. Good luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
December 2, 2010

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Blueing or black oxide is a deceptively complicated process if you don't have some one to help you get started. Industry people tend to protect their own and don't like to share their knowledge. After all it is their livelihood and they don't want competition. On top of that most of the books written on the subject were done for the firearms industry not the machining industry and the end products are in no way similar. In your situation you don't need answers to single problems, you need everything from setup to finished product and because of the amount of information you need I think you are probably best off to find some one that sells the chemicals and the tanks and get them to get you started. Otherwise you are just going to end up wasting a few months and a lot of money. All I can recommend at this point in your adventure is that you use hot caustic bluing and start calling chemical companies and find out which ones can get you going at the price level you can afford. Some of the firms that advertise here may ship chemicals overseas and be able to sell you tanks and heaters and give you operating instructions. In short your request is far beyond good natured helpful advise.

Rod Henrickson
gunsmith - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
December 8, 2010

Chose vendors and consultants with great care. India is a lot like the USA in that there are superior companies and people and there are shady ones that will take your money and not provide quality service after the sale.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
December 10, 2010