Hi Arch, get out your friendly Machinery's Handbook, most any edition, and
check the section "Coloring Metals". You will have several choices there
but not too many are home friendly, mostly because of the higher temperature
required to finish the process. You might also contact your local metal
plater and ask what they would charge to "blacken" them for you. I realise
however, given your ancestry, that paying for something you could do for
yourself is probably not acceptable.......(G)
"Arch" wrote in message
...
I started making some inserted bit hollowing tools and it was so easy I
couldn't stop. Now I have a pot full! Half inch shafts, 3/16 in. bits,
maple handles with copper tubing ferrules, but I need to gussy them up
before giving to turning friends. Might be a hopeless task and turners
will just turn away, but maybe blackening or bluing and polishing the
shafts would make them presentable.

I've never blackened cold rolled bar and need advice on a cheap and
simple way, if that's possible. I've heard of kits that employ cold
methods for black oxide. I'm a pre-newbie in all this and need advice
and/or a referral. Also any other ideas re making my ugly ducklings
into swans? TIA, Arch

Fortiter,


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