[TheForge] Blackening Steel

[Fiorini & Skiles]

I use Van's Gun Blue to blacken steel.  I only rinse with water, no stopping 
agent.  I don't get the rusting.

I haven't used Birchwood Casey.  The only suggestion I might have is to try 
different dilutions of the product.  Make it a little weaker.
-Kirsten
www.kirstenskiles.com

 >


> Greetings,
>
> I've been using Birchwood Casey Presto Black and their blackening gel ( 
> can't remember the name) to try to blacken steel. I apply with a sponge 
> soaked in the solution full strength.  I stop the agent with water, 
> usually from a hose or spray bottle depending on the size of the piece. 
> What has been happening is before I can dry and finish with a clear the 
> pieces have been flash rusting (their term). The end results can be very 
> pleasant variations of browns and dark greens, not black or blue black. I 
> spoke to the company rep about it but his suggestions haven't worked. They 
> include not stopping the blackening agent with a water hose, drying 
> immediately, swabbing it off with a wet sponge, using a baking soda- water 
> mix to stop.  Has anyone had any experience with these products and worked 
> through similiar problems?  I have achieved a nice blue black with their 
> products before but not in awhile and not with what I remember any 
> different method besides the one I describe.  I'm pret
> ty frustrated at this point.  Thanks for any help.
>
> Regards,
> Bill Woolley
>
>