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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
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    Rockhampton
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    Default Blackening old spanners

    Just wondering what methods people use to blacken old spanners. Once I have cleaned any rust off them I would like to get them back to a black colour that is reasonably durable and give them a bit of protection from rerusting.
    45DDE623-CF84-4751-ACB2-596D718ED62E.jpg
    have heard that you can heat them a dunk them in oil...wasn’t sure if that would soften them or not as I still want to use them.
    Gaza

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
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    blue mountains
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    Default

    Phosphoric acid. Provided that are bare steel and not plated. Not good to heat them.
    Regards
    John

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
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    Default

    I use a cold fume bluing method.

    It's a medieval process that takes ages but it gives outstanding results.
    For details look here More metal bluing
    At post #47 in that thread I describe a faster Hydrogen peroxide and Salt method. Its fast but I don't think its as good as teh cold fume bluing method.


    Latestbatch.jpg
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  5. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
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    Petone, NZ
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Gaza58 View Post
    Just wondering what methods people use to blacken old spanners. Once I have cleaned any rust off them I would like to get them back to a black colour that is reasonably durable and give them a bit of protection from rerusting...
    I've been painting mine to give them some rust protection - but it's probably not very durable.

    Cheers, Vann.
    Gatherer of rusty planes tools...
    Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .

  6. #5
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    Jun 2016
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    Rockhampton
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    Default

    Thanks everyone....I found a process of cold parkerising that Caswell sells that looks like a good option...will post some results after giving it a go.
    Gaza

  7. #6
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    Sep 2008
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gaza58 View Post
    ...I found a process of cold parkerising that Caswell sells that looks like a good option...will post some results after giving it a go.
    Looking forward to seeing the results.

    Quote Originally Posted by Vann
    I've been painting mine to give them some rust protection...
    Here's a Whitworth 'set' (trying to get the full range in "Snail" brand) that I painted red-oxide (so I'd know they were part of the 'set').

    Spanners.jpg

    The rest I've done in matt or satin black - which looks much better, but might get lost in the dark corners of my garage/workshop . Oh, and I painted the 1" BSW spanner for the spindle nut on my Wadkin saw in "Wadkin" grey.

    Cheers, Vann.
    Gatherer of rusty planes tools...
    Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    Rockhampton
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    Default

    I have ordered the Caswell Kit.. The freight is a killer due to the chemicals being classed as hazardous ... all though they did say they may be able to help with the freight a bit so we will see.

    Was thinking of the Snail Brand as well, Vann. The Eagle brand just popped up at the right time so going for a set of those. Mainly looking at the single ended type although I have a few double enders. Might go a set of each if they pop up at the right price
    Gaza

  9. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gaza58 View Post
    ...Was thinking of the Snail Brand as well, Vann. The Eagle brand just popped up at the right time so going for a set of those. Mainly looking at the single ended type although I have a few double enders...
    When I looked through what I had in the way of old fashion looking Whitworth spanners (similar to those pictured in the Wadkin brouchures), Snail was the dominant brand, also had several Lion brand and maybe a couple of Eagle brand. I also have some Superslim and King Dick but they're more modern looking. Almost all double enders.

    For my woodlathe tailstock I needed a 5/8"BSW spanner. I found one that was in good nick - but the other end was splayed. So I ground the other end off to turn it into a single ender (it too got the 'Wadkin grey' treatment).

    Cheers, Vann.
    Gatherer of rusty planes tools...
    Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .

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