Black Oxide: The Simple and Powerful Way to Transform Your Hardware

Summary

In this video, the host demonstrates how to restore rusty bolts using a black oxide coating process. This method provides a durable, chip-resistant finish without painting. The process involves cleaning the bolts by sandblasting or using a wire wheel, then treating them with a black oxide solution. After soaking in the solution, the bolts are coated with penetrating oil to prevent rust. The technique works for steel bolts but not for stainless steel or aluminum. It's a cost-effective way to refurbish bolts, perfect for restoration projects.

Takeaways

• 🔧 The video demonstrates how to restore rusty bolts using a black oxide coating process.
• 🧪 Black oxide coating is a chemical process, not paint, and won't chip off like paint would.
• 🧴 The process involves using a Caswell black oxide treatment concentrate mixed with distilled water in a 1:9 ratio.
• 🔨 The bolts need to be cleaned first, removing rust and grime via sandblasting or a wire wheel.
• 🧼 After cleaning, the bolts are soaked in acetone to remove oils and other contaminants.
• 🕑 The black oxide treatment works after soaking the bolts for 5-10 minutes, though longer times may also work.
• 🧲 A magnet can be used to retrieve the bolts from the solution without breaking glass jars.
• 💡 This method does not work on stainless steel or aluminum bolts, only regular steel.
• 🛡️ After treatment, the bolts are coated with Caswell penetrating oil to prevent future rusting.
• 🔩 The process can be applied to various small parts like springs and washers, giving them a clean, factory-new appearance.

Q & A

What is black oxide coating and how does it differ from painting?

Black oxide coating is a chemical process used to coat metal parts like bolts. Unlike paint, it won’t chip off and is more durable. It chemically bonds with the metal surface, whereas paint sits on top.

What materials are required to perform the black oxide coating process at home?

You need Caswell black oxide treatment concentrate, distilled water, a container to mix the solution, acetone, a sandblast cabinet (or a wire wheel for cleaning), a magnet, and penetrating oil.

How do you mix the black oxide treatment solution?

The black oxide treatment is mixed at a ratio of one part black oxide concentrate to nine parts distilled water.

What is the purpose of sandblasting the bolts before applying the black oxide treatment?

Sandblasting removes rust, grime, and paint from the bolts to ensure they are clean, which is essential for the black oxide coating to bond properly to the metal surface.

Why should acetone be used after sandblasting the bolts?

Acetone is used to remove any oil or residue left on the bolts after sandblasting, ensuring the surface is clean for the black oxide treatment.

Does black oxide coating work on all types of metal?

No, black oxide coating does not work on stainless steel or zinc-coated bolts, and it likely doesn’t work on aluminum either. It's designed specifically for regular steel.

How long should bolts be left in the black oxide solution?

The bolts should be left in the black oxide solution for about five to ten minutes, although longer durations (up to an hour) won’t cause harm but also won’t significantly improve the results.

Why do the bolts sometimes have light spots after the black oxide treatment?

Light spots can appear if some areas were not fully cleaned or if any zinc or leftover paint remained on the bolt, which prevents the black oxide from adhering.

What is the purpose of applying penetrating oil after the black oxide process?

The penetrating oil protects the bolts from rusting by sealing the surface after the black oxide coating. Over time, it soaks into the surface, creating a semi-gloss or satin finish.

Is the black oxide process expensive to start, and how long do the materials last?

The initial setup cost can be somewhat expensive, but the black oxide treatment and penetrating oil last for a long time. Hundreds of bolts can be treated without using up much of the supplies.

Outlines

00:00

🔧 Restoring Rusty Bolts with Black Oxide Coating

In this section, the presenter introduces the process of transforming rusty bolts into new-looking ones using black oxide coating. Unlike painting, this chemical process ensures the coating won't chip off. The presenter uses a Caswell black oxide treatment mixed with distilled water, demonstrating how to clean bolts first, either by sandblasting or using a wire wheel. After cleaning, the bolts are soaked in acetone to remove oil. The process is simple and efficient for restoring steel bolts but doesn't work for stainless steel or aluminum.

05:00

⚙️ Applying the Black Oxide Treatment

Here, the process continues with the presenter submerging the cleaned bolts in the black oxide solution for five minutes. After this, the bolts are removed, wiped down, and then submerged again for an additional five to ten minutes, though longer soaking times (up to an hour) don't show much difference. Once finished, the bolts are wiped clean, revealing a durable black coating. Any imperfections could be due to leftover paint or zinc. The presenter stresses that zinc won't blacken, and highlights how well the coating adheres when done correctly.

🛠️ Protecting and Finishing the Coated Bolts

After the black oxide treatment, the bolts are coated with Caswell penetrating oil to prevent rust. The presenter notes that while other oils like WD-40 may work, the specialized oil offers longer-lasting protection. Despite this, exposure to moisture could still cause rusting over time, even with the oil. The presenter advises letting the bolts sit for a few minutes after applying the oil before allowing them to dry overnight, giving the coating a semi-gloss or satin finish once the oil sets.

🔩 Versatility of the Black Oxide Process for Other Parts

The presenter showcases bolts treated days earlier, which now have a smooth, blackened finish. Besides bolts, other small parts such as Jeep latches, springs, and washers can also benefit from this restoration method. The process is cost-effective, especially for restoring parts in a Resto mod project where factory authenticity isn’t required. The black oxide and penetrating oil last through multiple uses, making it a durable and affordable solution for many automotive restoration needs.

💡 Cost-Efficient Restoration Tips

In the final part, the presenter emphasizes the value of this restoration technique for saving money. Rather than buying new bolts, one can restore old parts with black oxide coating for a fraction of the cost. The presenter invites viewers to subscribe to the channel for more money-saving project tips and insights. The closing highlights the durability and effectiveness of this process in giving bolts and small parts a brand-new look without breaking the bank.

Keywords

💡Black Oxide Coating

Black oxide coating is a chemical process used to treat metal surfaces, especially bolts, to give them a durable, darkened appearance. In the video, the presenter explains how this coating makes bolts look brand new and prevents chipping. It is noted that this process works for regular steel but not for stainless steel or aluminum.

💡Caswell Black Oxide Treatment

This is a specific brand of black oxide treatment used in the video. The presenter demonstrates how to mix this treatment with distilled water and use it to coat bolts. The treatment is a key part of the process to achieve a professional, long-lasting finish on metal parts.

💡Sandblasting

Sandblasting is a method of cleaning metal surfaces by propelling abrasive materials at high speed. In the video, the presenter uses a sandblast cabinet to remove rust, grime, and old paint from bolts before applying the black oxide treatment. This step ensures the surface is clean and ready for coating.

💡Penetrating Oil

Penetrating oil is a lubricating oil that is applied to the black oxide-coated bolts to protect them from rust. The video uses Caswell penetrating oil, but the presenter also mentions that other oils like WD-40 could potentially work. The oil enhances the finish and helps the bolts resist moisture.

💡Rust Prevention

Rust prevention is a central goal of the process described in the video. The presenter explains that while black oxide-coated bolts look new, they are still susceptible to rust if exposed to moisture. Applying penetrating oil helps slow down the rusting process, but it's a temporary solution.

💡Distilled Water

Distilled water is mixed with the Caswell black oxide treatment in a 1:9 ratio to create the solution used for treating bolts. Distilled water is used because it is free from impurities, ensuring the treatment process is as effective as possible.

💡Acetone

Acetone is a solvent used to clean any oil or residue off the bolts before they are coated with the black oxide solution. In the video, the bolts are submerged in acetone after sandblasting to ensure they are free of contaminants that might affect the coating process.

💡Wire Wheel

A wire wheel is an alternative tool mentioned in the video for cleaning bolts. While the presenter prefers sandblasting for faster results, a wire wheel can also effectively remove rust and paint from metal surfaces before coating.

💡Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is a type of metal that does not react with the black oxide treatment used in the video. The presenter emphasizes that the black oxide coating process is only effective on regular steel, and it will not work on stainless steel, which is more resistant to corrosion.

💡Zinc Coating

Zinc coating, often found on bolts for corrosion protection, interferes with the black oxide coating process. The presenter notes that if any zinc remains on the bolts after cleaning, it will not turn black during the treatment process, potentially leaving uneven spots on the final finish.

Highlights

The process involves rejuvenating old, rusty bolts using a black oxide coating method instead of painting.

Black oxide coating provides a durable finish that doesn't chip off like paint.

The method requires a black oxide treatment concentrate mixed with distilled water (1 part concentrate to 9 parts water).

Sandblasting or using a wire wheel is essential to clean the bolts and remove rust, grime, and paint.

The acetone bath step is critical to removing any oils from the bolts before applying the coating.

The process is not suitable for stainless steel or aluminum bolts, as the black oxide treatment doesn’t adhere to these metals.

The bolts are submerged in the black oxide solution for 5-10 minutes, after which they begin to turn black.

After the initial 5 minutes, the bolts may have a film that should be wiped off before returning them to the solution.

Leaving bolts in the solution for extended periods, like an hour, enhances the black oxide coating.

Wiping off any remaining residue after soaking is necessary to achieve an even finish.

Penetrating oil, like Caswell penetrating oil, is applied after the black oxide treatment to prevent rust and maintain the finish.

The bolts should sit for a few minutes to allow the oil to soak in, creating a protective layer.

The oil will dry over time, leaving a semi-gloss or satin finish on the bolts.

This method can also be applied to other metal parts, such as latches, springs, and washers.

The black oxide and oil treatments are cost-effective solutions for restoring parts without needing to buy new ones.

Transcripts

[Music]

today on Perpetual projects we're going

to show you how we take old

Rusty looking bolts like that and make

them look brand new like that

so this is a chemical process it's not

painting it this is not painted so this

coating won't chip off it actually it's

called black oxide coating and if you

get new bolts sometimes they are black

oxide coated when you buy them and you

can do this process at home with just a

couple of things the first thing you're

going to need is this Caswell black

oxide treatment

or concentrate and you mix one part of

this to nine Parts distilled water I've

got one that I've mixed up in an old uh

spaghetti or Alfredo jar here and I've

been using this for quite a while and it

still works great so I'm just going to

continue using this one and what's what

we're going to use today so the first

thing that you need to do is clean your

bolts you need to get all the rust and

grime and paint off of them the way

we're going to do that is we're going to

use our sandblast cabinet and you could

use a wire wheel I've done it before and

it works just as well it's just a little

more time consuming okay now that we've

got our bolts all sandblasted we're

gonna go ahead and just drop them in

this jar here it just has acetone in it

to help get any oil or anything

on there

switch them around careful if you're

using glass jars you don't want to break

your jar

uh I've been I've been through I don't

know 100 of these bolts and some pretty

good sized ones and so far I haven't

broken one

um I'll probably break that one now that

I said that

then just use a magnet to get them out

so just for record

um this won't work for stainless bolts

or aluminum well I don't know if it'll

work for aluminum it definitely doesn't

work for stainless I can tell you that

for sure

um I imagine it probably doesn't work

for aluminum either because it's

designed for like steel regular steel

once you have them clean you're gonna go

ahead and drop them in your solution of

the black oxide treatment

and I just put them in here

put the lid on

switch it around a little bit

after five minutes I like to take my

bolts out

and you'll see where they've started to

get

partially blackened but they have this

film building up on them so I take them

out

and I just wipe them off real good

once you have them all wiped off

just put them back in

for another five sometimes ten minutes

um I've left them overnight and I didn't

notice the huge difference

so we'll let these sit five minutes and

see how they look we may or may not have

decided to have dinner and let this soak

for closer to an hour

um we did we had dinner we let it sit

for an hour let's see how our bolts are

turning out

so I mean as you can see there that's

got a little light spot right there on

the edge

but they're nice and black

and you can't wipe it off anymore

so we'll go ahead and get all these out

that

little part right there that could

possibly be some paint that was left on

there

um some of these bolts were gray so it

was kind of hard to see or it could be a

little bit of zinc if you have if you

leave any zinc on there the zinc also

won't turn black

all right so once they're all wiped off

you can see they're nice and black oxide

coated you just take your penetrating

oil and this is this is actual Caswell

penetrating oil that's made for doing

this I don't know how it would work if

you just used you know like wd-40s is a

pretty good protectant or PV Blaster is

a penetrating I don't know how that

would work I also know that these will

eventually rust again if they if they

have uh if they're exposed to moisture

they'll rust just like a regular black

oxide coat boat will

if it was left sandblasted they can

handle a little bit of moisture

especially with the oil coating so we'll

let these sit for about three or four

minutes and then pull them out and just

let them dry off now they're all done

we'll just let them sit here and let

that oil soak I don't wipe them off

after I've done the oil

and

after uh I don't know overnight usually

they'll kind of dry to uh I don't know

semi-gloss or a satin finish

and that oil will be nice and

embedded in there

so let me show you

we'll get an up close look at what these

look like

these are bolts that I did a couple days

ago and you can see after that oil dries

that gloss goes away and they just are

nice black brand new looking bolts and

you didn't have to go buy all new ones

you can also do other small parts like

these are the latches for our Jeep

tailgate it works on Springs

uh that's a washer this is a little

spring that goes behind that latch it

works on that stuff too this is my

favorite

way to bring back old Parts especially

if you're doing like uh a Resto mod

where you don't need Factory appearing

bolts

I I think it's awesome and it's a simple

process it's not super expensive it is a

little bit expensive to get started but

that that black oxide coating is going

to last or treatment is going to last a

long time and this penetrating oil I

mean it goes down obviously some of it

stays on every bolt but it's gonna last

I've done hundreds of bolts and as you

can see I've barely broke into my my

black oxide coating and I think this

penetrating oil might have been just a

little bit higher when I first poured it

in this glass jar

I hope you guys have enjoyed if you like

tips like this subscribe because we try

to we try to share some insight on some

of the little things that we do to try

to save money so that

we don't have to buy all new bolts when

we put our projects back together we can

have brand new looking bolts for a lot

less money

see you soon

[Music]

foreign