Home Made Bluing Setup?

wilhurley

wilhurley

Joined
May 9, 2004
Messages
252
I was at another Knifemakers shop the other day and he had a hot blue setup. I really like the look of blued knives, I've tried cold bluing and its really not the look or effect I want, kinda spotchy. Now my question would it be possible to build your own hot bluing setup at home? The only info I could find on the net was a guy who used a propane turkey frier setup for the hot bluing salts. http://www.geocities.com/kemays/formula.htm
Now I know on the professional setup the other knifemaker had he had I think 4 tanks one with hot water, soap and water, bluing salts, and I'm not sure about the 4th or even if there was one. Any Ideas, or what tanks you actually need to blue knives.
 
You can learn everything you need to know about blueing in the Brownells catalog. I agree, cold blue is not the best. It costs money to get set up and maintain a hot blueing system. Nitre blue isnt very expensive but It needs to be about 600 degrees. Propane will get it that hot, I just use a camp stove. I mostly use oxynate #7 and it works at 292 degrees. It is almost black with most steel except high nickel content damascus though.
 
I think I'm confused about the salts....there are bluing salts...and there are the other salts people use to heat-treat? Is that correct?

Is the setup the same? or completely different?
 
Daniel, yes there are hi temp salts that will run at 1500F for heat treating but the nitre blue salts can be used for tempering as well as blueing because of the lower heat. The setup for tempering with the nitre blue is the same but the higher temp (1500F) needs a forge type setup.

Most makers use the nitre blue because it is the esiest to use and isnt expensive to dispose of. It converts back to a nice solid block when cooled off but the liquid bluing salts remain liquid when cool and require a neutralizing kit that costs around $150 to kill them. They otherwise grow and grow when not in use. Its a messy thing to have in the shop and is best left to a professional or be kept and used in a small shed all of its own.

All salts are corrosive and dangerous to use and store. The results are wonderful but there is allot of responsibility involved. Dont just jump right in.
 
Listen to Bruce! Blueing salts are very dangerous and very bad for the environment if not disposed of correctly.
 
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