Blueing of steel allows you to create a protective coating that prevents corrosion, which also has good decorative qualities. If it is done correctly, it has greater durability than paints, so it can be used on rubbing surfaces. Let's look at how you can make bluing at home in various shades: golden, blue and classic black.
What you will need:
- gas-burner;
- solvent;
- container with water;
- waste container.
Bluening process
The workpiece for bluing must be sanded well so that it is smooth and degreased with a solvent. Then the part is hooked with a wire hook and heated evenly with a gas burner. In places where the metal is thicker, it should be heated longer.
If, at the moment a golden tarnish appears on the steel, you dip it in water, then such a noble coating will be preserved.
This is a thin, fairly easily removable layer of bluing with excellent decorative qualities. If you cover such a blank with transparent varnish, it will look beautiful and will definitely not rust.
If you heat the workpiece longer until blueness begins to appear under the torch of a soldering iron, and also cool it in water, you will get a more durable and very beautiful bluing. However, it also needs additional varnishing.
The most durable bluing can be achieved by heating the part to a uniform gray tarnish so that it appears over the entire surface.
This workpiece is processed.
Then you need to pull it out and heat it with a burner so that the oil is completely baked and reacts with the steel. As a result, the workpiece will become matte black. If you dip it in the waste again and dry it with a burner, the color will become deeper. This bluing layer does not require varnishing. Metal will not rust through it.
When bluing, it is important not to overheat the part beyond the point of gray tarnish. Otherwise, the metal will release, become softer and lose its original properties.
