Home Blackening

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evolbeaver

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Dec 22, 2008
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I was wondering if anyone has any experience with any of the products they sell at www.caswellplating.com? I see that they sell all sorts of stuff from rub on/soaking to electroplating type coatings. I am looking into blackening some handles on my balisong and maybe even the blade if I can find something that would be durable enough. I am considering some of the following products but am always open to suggestions as well. If anyone knows of any paints that are durable (I know you can bake on some spray paints to make them more durable but dont know what brands) please let me know. I have also been researching (through google) the possibility of making a home anodizing system that can work with titanium and aluminum. Although not as durable as a professional job, it looks like it would work fine for my needs and plus I can do it myself. Take a look:

http://www.caswellplating.com/kits/plugnplate.htm

http://www.caswellplating.com/kits/plugnplate.htm

http://mrtitanium.com/anodizer.html

http://astro.neutral.org/anodise.shtml (click on the yellow links in upper left for all the pages and explanations)

Thank you all for taking your time to read this and I hope to hear from you soon.
 
evolbeaver, I've got the same situation; you may have read "How do I blacken a blade?".
If you try (or have tried) a coating, please post how it turned out.
In case you didnt know, you can google within bladeforums. This question has been asked many times, with varying results.
Note that stainless steels are harder do color than non-stainless, and neither will anodize.

I wonder If the whole blade can be "etched", rather than just a small image?
 
Any black coating, except the PVD coatings, will immediately wear off of a knife blade.
 
I asked a similar question about DuraCoat or Gun Kote. I know that DuraCoat works well on rifles and motorcycle frames. If you want it off of your gun you have to sand blast it because sanding won't do the job. So it is hard strong and durable on both of those just don't know how durable it is on a knife
 
What kind of steel are we talking about? The 400 series stainless and stainless steels above that have to be electroplated to get a wearable finish. On high carbon blades with small amounts of chromium, I use Birchwood Casey cold blue and do it several times, however, use of the blade will wear it off pretty fast. I have a Japanese layered white steel carpenter's knife which I brought too a nice black finish, but using it on wood diminishes the black to blue/black, then a mottled finish.
 
oldscrimmer said:
The 400 series stainless and stainless steels above that have to be electroplated to get a wearable finish.
Click to expand...

How does one go about "electroplating" (mine is AUS8A)? I assume the process is different than etching or anodizing?
 
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