Got some metal blacking stuff fromn Chronos - acid dip, neutralising rinse, blacking stuff for steel and for ally.
What the script with using this stuff? Can I pre-clean a part in something like meths? What sort of containers should I use - little ceramic pie dishes, perhaps? What about handling parts - plastic tweezers? Do I have to agitate a part at each stage of the process, or doe sthe stuff 'soak in' even at the points where the part is in contact with the dish?
What about pouring it back into the containers? Can I just use a little plastic funnel? Should I dedicate a dish and funnel to each chemical to avoid cross-contamination? If not, what's the right way to clean between each stage?
For larger parts, can one half be done, and then the other, or will there be 'tide marks'? Can the stuff be painted on?
Wally I'm surprised you didn't get an instruction sheet with the stuff. Got mine about five years ago from Frost, the folks who sell car accessories via mail order
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they provide three separate one litre plastic jugs of product - an alkaline degreasing fluid, a 'dewatering' oil and the blacking agent. They also supply three plastic boxes, just like supermarket ice cream cartons into which you pour the product and treat the parts, before tipping the unused product back into its appropriate jug.
I'm very pleased with mine and the only complaint I have is that I cannot buy the dewatering oil or degreaser separately, the whole caboodle cost about £35 as I remember) Send me a snail mail address off list and I'll send you a photocopy of the instructions, it will answer all your questions.
Best regards --
Chris Edwards (in deepest Dorset) ..."There must be an easier way...!"
Got my kit from Frost a few years back, the folks who sell car accessories by mail order
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I see it's still listed. For about £35 they provide three one litre plastic jugs, one contains a light alkaline degreaser, one a 'dewatering' oil and one the blacking solution. They also provide three square plastic boxes (supermarket ice cream box type), each about eight by eight by four inches deep into which you pour the appropriate solution. All parts of the process are at normal room temperature, about 20c. You will also need adjacent cold water, either from a tap (best) or in a bucket.
For steel, fix copper wire to parts to act as handle and proceed as follows:
Gently submerge parts for about ten mins in box holding degreaser, if necessary use small paintbrush as scrubber and agitate as necessary to ensure trapped air released and all parts of item are in contact with fluid.
Rinse parts in cold water for one min. Remove excess water with clean paper towel.
Immerse parts in blacking solution, again agitating as necessary, until colour achieved. This usually takes about three to four mins, but do not leave in blacking for longer than five mins.
Repeat Step 2.
Submerge parts in dewatering oil and leave for about ten mins, remove and allow to air dry - do not wipe dry. Parts are now ready for use.
Pour chemicals back into appropriate jug ready for reuse.
I'm generally very pleased with the results, my only complaint being that I can't buy either the degreaser or the dewatering oil separately from the whole kit. If you need to know more, send me a snail mail address and I'll send you a photocopy of the instructions, although they don't say much more than I have already outlined above. --
Chris Edwards (in deepest Dorset) ..."There must be an easier way...!"
Sounds very similar to a kit I bought a while back from a co called "Metalblak" - they used to sell their stuff at the ME shows & would supply the individual components no problem. Details I have (which are a few years old now" are
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