lab-dad
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« on: May 28, 2012, 04:07:37 PM » |
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I need to slightly darken the aluminum pulleys on my drill press. Everything I have has failed me. The chemicals i have do darken bur also pit. I dont want them black but the polished finish is too bright. Oils? Goache?
Marty
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Mr Potato Head
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« Reply #1 on: May 28, 2012, 10:50:30 PM » |
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Go to your local industrial metal supply place they'll have the blackener you need, it’s cheap too, a concentrated quart will last you a lifetime! MPH
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Gil Flores In exile in Boise Idaho
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Andi Little
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« Reply #2 on: May 29, 2012, 01:57:35 AM » |
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Didn't want to say anything for fear of getting it wrong! - But, have you tried "Oven cleaner"? Every time I've got any near ally' it has darkened it considerably, almost a deep gunmetal.
Just thinking.
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KBO..................... Andi.
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Design-HSB
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« Reply #3 on: May 29, 2012, 04:20:37 AM » |
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Hi Marty, i think ALUMINUM-BLACKthe best way for your part.
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Regards Helmut the journey is the goal
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chester
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« Reply #4 on: May 29, 2012, 07:21:57 AM » |
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Marty, had some luck by using Muriatic acid and Hydrogen Peroxide 50/50. Not quite as potent on aluminum as most chemical etchants and can be weakened by using more peroxide.
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marc_reusser
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« Reply #5 on: May 29, 2012, 05:16:12 PM » |
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Pee? 
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I am an unreliable witness to my own existence.In the corners of my mind there is a circus....M-Works
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finescalerr
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« Reply #6 on: May 30, 2012, 01:41:25 AM » |
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Okay, Marc. Your turn. Go stand in the corner. -- Russ
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lab-dad
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« Reply #7 on: May 30, 2012, 06:08:50 AM » |
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Marc, Tried that - turned yellow..........
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chester
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« Reply #8 on: May 30, 2012, 07:55:07 AM » |
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A little off the subject but when I was young I would help my grandfather in his construction business. One Saturday I was given a can full of pee (donor unknown) and told to "paint" the galvanized gutters with it before the finish paint went on. I suspect the thought was it would etch the metal. I have no idea if this is so. I washed my hands thoroughly before lunch that day.
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lab-dad
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« Reply #9 on: May 30, 2012, 08:51:48 AM » |
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I have heard of the urine helping to promote the green on copper.
At this point i think I am going to leave the pulleys alone, they look pretty good "as-is". May be just a hint of surface rust on the ones not used often, recently....... It is coming along, pics soon.
-Marty
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shropshire lad
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« Reply #10 on: May 30, 2012, 10:10:41 AM » |
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Horse pee will blacken oak shavings , something to do with the ammonia in the pee . Though I suspect you will have to have some pretty potent pee to blacken aluminium .
Do you want me to send you a pint or two of horse pee to have a bit of an experiment ? ! ? Or is your own toxic enough ?
Nick
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chester
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« Reply #11 on: May 31, 2012, 06:50:28 AM » |
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It would be the ammonia if it were white oak. I built some wh. oak furniture that we tented and put ammonia gas into the tent to get a black color. Lye does a number on cherry too.
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eTraxx
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« Reply #12 on: May 31, 2012, 09:00:20 AM » |
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A while back I got a sample of InstaBlak A384. You can see from the pic this enough of a 'sample' to last me quite a while .. probably forever. The company shows a InstaBlak A385 also - http://www.epi.com/c/black-oxide/aluminum .. there is a button below each where you can request a sample. Might be worth the time.
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lab-dad
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« Reply #13 on: May 31, 2012, 03:20:58 PM » |
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Thanks Ed, Dont use the regular (insta black) stuff on aluminum - pitted the hell out of the piece I did. -Marty
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Malachi Constant
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« Reply #14 on: May 31, 2012, 04:28:12 PM » |
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For an alternative to the chemical treatments ... some acrylic glaze medium (Vallejo or craft store stuff) and a touch of deep gray acrylic paint. Mixing the paint with glaze medium makes a transparent paint layer -- TINY touch of paint on the first round to check the effect ... let dry for several hours (takes a lot longer with glaze medium) ... go back with a slightly denser coat if needed. And, for even more transparent coat ... touch of Vallejo black ink in glaze medium ... there won't be any opacity to the color, just a tinting effect like looking at it thru sunglasses. -- Dallas
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-- Dallas Mallerich (Just a freakin' newbie who stumbled into the place) Email me on the "Contact Us" page at www.BoulderValleyModels.com
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