Slightly OT Question

Dave Fulton · #1

Hello,

I've been looking for an answer, but can't seem to find one ... so I thought I'd give you all a crack at it.

Anodizing is a way of adding color to aluminum, but are there other ways to color aluminum? For example, can 6061-T6 be cold-blued?

TIA

Dave.

#2

Hi Dave. I don't think so. I believe that cold blueing only works on steel.

sal

Dave Fulton · #3

Bummer! Thanks for the info Sal!

Dave

Knife Knut · #4

You piqued my curiosity, so ....

Here is an aluminum blackener:
http://www.birchwoodcasey.com/sport/blu ... ng.html#b6

Homeblend version of blackener is halfway down this page:
http://w3.uwyo.edu/~metal/anodizing.html

Chocolate brown
http://www.artmetal.com/brambush/forum/ ... s/830.html

Sal, I am pretty sure true cold bluing works only on non-stainless steel, as it is a controlled corrosive process. This seems to be the case with the Birchwood-Casey products.

Knife Knut on a shoestring budget.