Blueing salts

Hey J.-


I use the Houghton from Carlisle. I have used them for bluing steel. I have only blued damascus folder scales and handle hardware in them, and did it around 585 degrees. I wouldn't put a blade in there that hot....I'm not sure what they'd do down around 4-450. I think you'd get the colors you want, it would just take longer. At a salt temp of 585 it takes a few seconds up to a couple minutes at most to get the really brilliant blues.

Throw some nickel in it and you will keep those pretty silver veins in the steel.

I'd like to try those salts from Jantz.

I think Bruce Bump runs salts that work in the 200 degree range, but I'm not positive.

Good luck!
Nick
 
OK I've been doing some research
this is the type you mix with water. low temp.
see my page on it here
http://www.knivesby.com/blueingsalts.html

but read all warnings before trying any of it..
this I believe is the same stuff as Jantz sells.

Sodium hydroxide solutions is also known as caustic soda,
liquid caustic
(solutions of 45-75% sodium hydroxide in water), lye, soda lye, sodium hydrate, white caustic, and solution d'hydroxyde de sodium

and you can buy Lye at a true value.
 
NickWheeler said:
Hey J.-



Throw some nickel in it and you will keep those pretty silver veins in the steel.

Nick
Click to expand...

Hey Nick, if you don't mind, I have a newbie question. how do i add nickel into the salt? nickel strips, powder?
 
Thanks, with all the salt pot/blueing articles and threads i've been reading i envisioned some chemical reaction taking place by adding some nickel. :footinmou
I'll keep reading.................thanks
 
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