Stainless steel blades and tools can be drawn, but will not color due to the composition of the steel. Unlike conventional hot salts bluing, NitreBlue Bluing can produce a wide range of color, from a pale yellow “straw” color, to a deep, black blue.
What chemical is used for bluing?
Bluing may be applied by immersing steel parts in a solution of potassium nitrate, sodium hydroxide, and water heated to the boiling point, 275–310 °F (135–154 °C) depending on the recipe.
What does bluing mean?
Definition of bluing : a preparation used in laundering to counteract yellowing of white fabrics.
What is hot salt bluing?
The bluing process consists of a five-stage system: a hot degreaser followed by a rinse, a mechanical scrubbing, then back to the degreaser, back to the rinse, then into molten salts. These are classified as molten because the boiling point is 290 degrees.
Can you blue a nickel gun?
I would love to do the slide of a gun with bluing in the serrations and nickel on the slide. Nickel plating can only be done on clean, raw, active metal; you can’t do it on top of bluing. However, you can blacken the nickel.
What is liquid bluing made of?
Liquid bluing is a colloidal suspension of a very fine blue iron powder and water. Other ingredients include a pH balancer and a biocide to prevent the buildup of algae and bacteria. You can also purchase bluing powder.
What is nitre blue bluing?
Unlike conventional hot salt bluing, nitre blue can produce a lustrous range of colors from a pale yellow “straw” color like the older Luger parts to a bright peacock or “fire blue” finish used on Colt and Smith & Wesson revolvers of the 1850’s through the 1930’s.
Is 600 degrees too hot for nitre bluing?
The 600 degree temperature in nitre bluing may anneal these parts and take away their heat treatment, making them prone to premature wear. This color can be achieved by heat tempering, but the process is difficult to master. See my write up here.
What grit for niter bluing?
For niter bluing of small parts you really want to polish them up to a mirror like luster. I typically go to about 800-1000 grit on a polishing wheel for most parts. You want to be sure to remove any pits or scratches. When the part gets put into the salts anything that is at the bottom of a pit or scratch is going to get boiled out.
What is the difference between nitnitre and charcoal bluing?
Nitre bluing creates vibrant blue colors, but they are not always durable as charcoal bluing coloration. This process works best on screws and pins because they are subject to less wear and movement.
