Steel Blacking Kit 5 Litres (for Cold Steel Blacking)

Steel Blacking Kit 5 Litres (for Cold Steel Blacking) (SKU: CH44)

£53.70- (£64.44 inc VAT.)

Steel blacking kit contains all items needed to blacken steel items. The kit uses just chemical action to turn steel items black within a few minutes just by dipping the item into the blackening solution. This process will also work for items that have been previously plated with zinc (not yellow passivated zinc).

The blackened steel items will need to be treated after dipping with dewatering oil, or other form of oil, varnish, lacquer or other barrier to prevent rusting as the black layer offers very little protection from atmospheric attack. Kit contents: black dipping tank, metal blacking solution (5 litres), mask, gloves, eye protection glasses, cleaning cloth and instructions.

  • Not suitable for stainless steel.
  • Click here for the instructions.

We can only ship this to the UK mainland. Watch the video and customer review below.

More Information

The cold blackening process using a chemical bath containing copper sulphate (CuSO₄), nickel sulphate (NiSO₄), selenium dioxide (SeO₂), and potassium bifluoride (KHF₂) works through a combination of oxidation, deposition, and chemical conversion to create a black oxide-like finish on steel. Here’s how it functions:-

1. Metal Activation & Surface Preparation

  • The steel surface must first be cleaned and degreased to remove oils, rust, or contaminants.
  • The potassium bifluoride (KHF₂) acts as an activator/etchant, lightly attacking the steel to create a more reactive surface for the blackening reaction.

2. Oxidation & Metal Deposition

  • Copper sulphate (CuSO₄) and nickel sulphate (NiSO₄) provide metal ions (Cu²⁺ and Ni²⁺) that deposit onto the steel surface in a thin layer.
  • These ions react with the iron (Fe) in the steel, displacing via a redox reaction.

3. Selenium Dioxide (SeO₂): The Blackening Agent

  • Selenium dioxide reacts with the deposited copper/nickel and iron to form a black selenide compound (e.g., CuSe, NiSe, FeSe).
  • This creates the deep black appearance (unlike hot bluing, which forms Fe₃O₄ magnetite).

4. Final Sealing (Required for Protection)

  • The blackened layer is not corrosion-resistant on its own.
  • After rinsing, the part must be coated with oil, wax, or lacquer to prevent rust.

Key Differences from Traditional Hot Bluing

✔ Cold process (works at room temp or slightly warmed, no boiling required).
✔ Faster (minutes vs. hours for hot bluing).
✔ Uses selenium for a darker, more uniform black (vs. magnetite in hot bluing).
✔ Less durable—requires sealing for rust prevention.

Steel Blacking Kit 5 Litres (for Cold Steel Blacking) help

  • Livechat is available if you would like any help with this product. Just mention “Steel Blacking Kit 5 Litres (for Cold Steel Blacking)” in the chat.
  • Call Chronos on (01582) 471900 for more info.
  • Email Chronos at sales@chronos.ltd.uk

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