Black coating on ancient Austin/Morris Spanners

[cardiffrob]

Hello.
I've cleaned up some old Superslim Snail-Brand spanners but they need to be blackened to mimic the original surface finish. Gun Blue or Oil Blackening. Heating to a dull red for the oil process might affect the temper, or am I safe going down this route?
Thanks

 

[Longhorn6120]

Frost’s Auto Restoration do a chemical blackening kit. Dead easy to use and I got great results on some antique wrought iron window fixings. Used it on some iron hinges for the garage doors and they rusted pretty quickly so I’m not sure I’d recommend it for outdoor use, but the indoor stuff still looks awesome.

Frost Metal Blacking Kit - Satin Black & Corrosion Resistant Coating

Frost Metal Blacking Kit - Satin Black & Corrosion Resistant Coating from Frost.co.uk - The Specialist of High Quality Tools & Equipment for the Classic Vehicle Restorer

www.frost.co.uk

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

I have used the frost kit, as mentioned above

Very good kit. Gun black is hit and miss.

Tips with the frost.

Clean well.
Solvent and with detergents.
Let them drip between stages.

Then when the black is fully dry a hard wax coat.

 

[cardiffrob]

Thanks.
Seems expensive just for a set of spanners so I'll keep looking for a while. Might even be cheaper in the end to paint them as "show only" for her (SWMBO) tool kit.

 

[zx9]

Thanks.
Seems expensive just for a set of spanners so I'll keep looking for a while. Might even be cheaper in the end to paint them as "show only" for her (SWMBO) tool kit.

Have been holding off posting but as you say they are for show only, get yourself a can of used oil from a diesel with plenty of soot in, heat them up and dunk them in the oil bath. Job done at almost no cost.

 

[Mr Fro]

I use selenium dioxide to blacken stuff up.

Quick, cheap and easy.

 

[cardiffrob]

What sort of temperature would be OK? It would be nice not to affect the temper, if possible.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Oil black.
Heat until spit bubbles off.

I thought first was expensive.
But I ended up using the kit many times.

 

[gordon stephenson]

Oil Blackening, You don't need to go any where near dull red, Just hot enough to burn the oil off after each time its dipped in the oil

 

[cardiffrob]

I've Googooed "Japanning" and it gives various recipes using "Asphaltum Powder". Has anyone tried using it?

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

I've Googooed "Japanning" and it gives various recipes using "Asphaltum Powder". Has anyone tried using it?

Not me, but have seen a friend try it.
The results were varied.

 

[daedalusminos]

This is good stuff, check out My Mechanic on YT - he uses both chemical and hot oil

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

This is good stuff, check out My Mechanic on YT - he uses both chemical and hot oil

View attachment 279517

I have used that stuff.

It is not as easy as You tuber shows.
Most You tubes show one , maybe 2 coats.

But the metal has to be very clean, not finger prints, they will show.

Plus, any contamination from the applicator to the bottle will wreck the rest left in the bottle.

Would I use it again?
If I got another bottle free, yes.
If not I will keep using the Frost kit.

 

[daedalusminos]

I've had nothing but good results with the Birchwood, photo below shows
Connector nuts: stripped of zinc plating using citric acid then blackened.
Steel tube: LH end unfinished, middle blackened, RH end blackened post citric acid etch.

 

[MattF]

Thanks.
Seems expensive just for a set of spanners so I'll keep looking for a while. Might even be cheaper in the end to paint them as "show only" for her (SWMBO) tool kit.

I could take them off your hands, & then you wouldn't have to do anything to them.

 

[Longhorn6120]

I still have the Frost stuff in lidded buckets ready for use, I’d be happy to have a crack at your spanners for you.