What is black oxide.
Black oxide stainless steel diy.
If you have a piece of steel or iron you would like to turn black and you do not want to paint or powder coat it using a gun bluing solution will leave your steel with a dark black color.
Hot black oxide converts the surface into magnetite.
Steel is used extensively in a variety of products from gun metal to hobby crafts.
It is a deposited copper selenium compound.
Hot black oxide involves hot baths of sodium hydroxide the nasty stuff in drain cleaner nitrates and nitrites.
Cold gun bluing involves the application of a selenium dioxide based compound which will permanently color the surface of.
Unfortunately steel is vulnerable to rusting which discolors the product and deteriorates the material.
Black oxide like other coatings is used to provide protection to the part achieve a required appearance or achieve other desired properties.
The cold processes produce a similar color but the coating tends to rub off more.
Black oxide is a form of coating used as a finish for ferrous metals stainless steel and copper and its alloys.
Cold black oxide is not an oxide conversion coating.
If you want to make a black oxide finish yourself the cold process black oxide system is a safe alternative.