blackening aluminum hardware?

[TheShanMan]

I've blackened my original steel carriage bolts for my centipede trackball using that gun blue stuff (worked pretty well - wish it was a bit darker, but certainly better than before).

Now the question is, how can I blacken aluminum screw posts? The gun bluing stuff says it only works on ferrous metals. So is there anything I can do to blacken aluminum in a fairly permanent manner? I can live with the silver look if not, but my overlay lends itself to black hardware more than silver.

[RandyT]

Now the question is, how can I blacken aluminum screw posts? The gun bluing stuff says it only works on ferrous metals. So is there anything I can do to blacken aluminum in a fairly permanent manner? I can live with the silver look if not, but my overlay lends itself to black hardware more than silver.

I think you would need to look at anodizing for aluminum, but the process is much more involved.

Be sure to check out Caswell Plating for options.  If they don't have it, it probably doesn't exist.

RandyT

[TheShanMan]

Thanks Randy. Actually they do! Aluminum Blackener on this page: http://www.caswellplating.com/kits/metal.htm.

However, it's $22.50. I wish I could buy 1/4 that amount for like half the cost. Hard to justify that much for just a few little parts.

If anyone knows of any other products or solutions, let me know!

[shmokes]

 

This honestly is what I would use.  It wouldn't even have occurred to me to "blacken" it.  I didn't even know there was such a thing.  BTW, Bob Roberts sells black carriage bolts.

[RandyT]

This honestly is what I would use.  It wouldn't even have occurred to me to "blacken" it.  I didn't even know there was such a thing.  BTW, Bob Roberts sells black carriage bolts.

The problem with paint on aluminum is that it rarely lasts very long.  Aluminum is one of those metals that oxidizes almost immediately when exposed to air.  As the durability of paint is directly related to the strength of the surface to which it is applied, it is greatly compromised because is it applied to a layer of oxidization.  And once it begins to oxidize, it will continue to do so, even under a layer of paint.

There are special prep substances that are used to clean aluminum before painting that can help quite a bit, but these tend to be industrial solutions and not something you'll find at Walmart.

RandyT

[Kevin Mullins]

There are special prep substances that are used to clean aluminum before painting that can help quite a bit, but these tend to be industrial solutions and not something you'll find at Walmart.

ALODINE - http://www.rci-products.com/ALODINE.html

Also used in conjunction with an acid etch first and then alodined for protection followed by paint.

[kudah440]

Anyone thought about getting powdercoating setup like this? http://eastwood.resultspage.com/search?p=Q&ts=custom&w=powder+coat
I find stuff that i wish i could powdercoat all the time, but usually forget it because im in a hurry and want to put the car back together or get groceries, blah blah blah...