chemically blackening aluminum?

[grnamin]

I have aluminum posts that are part of a chicago screw assembly. They come in a dull silver finish and I was wondering if there's a way to chemically blacken them using stuff available at regular hardware stores.

TIA,

Greg

 

[Darrel Ralph]

Brownells sells a finish for al that will make it black ..1-515-623-5401

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Darrel Ralph / Bladesmith
Web www.infinet.com/~browzer
Take a look!!!!

 

[Cougar Allen]

Some of the companies that sell cold blue also market an aluminum blackening formula with the same active ingredient, selenic acid. It is a mystery to me what difference there is between the two, if there is any difference other than the label. I have had better results with Formula 44-40 Gun Blue on aluminum than with the formulas marketed specifically for it. I swear by Formula 44-40, love the stuff -- they should pay me for all the advertising I give them on the net....

Results are good with some aluminum alloys, poor with others, nonexistent with some.

I think black paint is probably the best way to do rivets.

-Cougar Allen :{)