No passwords, No popups, No AI, No cost:
we earn from affiliate purchases

Home /
T.O.C.
Fun
FAQs
Good
Books
Ref.
Libr.
Adver-
tise
Help
Wanted
Current
Q&A's
Site 🔍
Search
ted_yosem
Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
finishing.com -- The Home Page of the Finishing Industry

  The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
  mfhotline


  -----

Oxide Finishing

Q. I have a question about oxide finishing. I had some tools that were rusted due to HCl vapors. I brushed the rust off and soon after the rust started again, but very lightly. I then brushed them off again and sprayed them with WD40 and stood them up in a tall plastic container. Because of all the tool that were placed in there, I had a 1/2" of oil that covered the tips of the tools.

61644-1

Weeks later when I pulled the tools out and wiped them there remained a 1/2 black oxide finish on the tip of the tools. Could someone with more knowledge explain to me what happened and could it be repeatable?

Thank you.
David

David Juarez
- Corona, California
February 29, 2024


A. There are many old gunsmith black finishes. All of them are based on formation of very thin rust layer. Probably some of your tools are based on more corrosion resistant steel alloy. Simplest formula for gunsmith's black are ferric chloride (or ferrous too) based (1,5% water solution -- according to Angier's book "Firearm Bluing and Browning" [on eBay , Amazon, AbeBooks affil links] , Onslow County 1936, p.78 ) ... Hope it helps and good luck!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia
March 2, 2024




(No "dead threads" here! If this page isn't currently on the Hotline your Q, A, or Comment will restore it)

Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread

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  -  ©1995-2024 finishing.com, Pine Beach, New Jersey, USA  -  about "affil links"