Darkening/blackening 440c

S

Steve_p

Joined
Apr 9, 2019
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Does anyone here have a good method for darkening 440c (or other stainless)? I’ve tried the stainless specific products from caswell and EPI but the both turn out kinda blotchy and streaky. I’m going for a dark black similar to an impact socket but even a dark grey would work.

the products I’ve tried seem like they are working but when I leave the blade in for the recommended time it looks blotchy. When I go longer than that it starts to put the metal slightly.

id rather stick with something that can be done at room temp, but not opposed to parkerization or other hot processes if that’s the only way.
 
A PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) coat would work. TDLC (Tungsten Diamond Like Carbon), TiAlN (Titanium Aluminum Nitride), and CBN (Cubic Boron Nitride) are all black. Electrodeposited black Chrome or black Nickel would also work. There are also organic (paint like) coatings that don’t hold up as well.
 
I have used HCL (15%) for stonewashing 14C28N, and it worked decently, though the finish is not extremely durable. It works at room temp, but the process is faster if you heat it up a bit.

Mark
 
I believe it was Ed Fowler who recommended cat pee to blacken metal. It's just really hard to collect if the cat doesn't want to cooperate.
 
It can’t hurt to Pee on it and see what happens.

it is certainly cheap as well as “green.”
 
You could try repeating shorter cycles of dipping and cleaning? But stainless is stainless . . .
 
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