While blueing is commonplace with steel guns, I’ve never seen it done with alloy. I think the most common alloy used in many airguns is zamac. I remember people saying you can’t blue that stuff, only paint it or anodize it. Is this still true or is there something new out there?
Is it possible to”blue” zamac?
- Thread starter borne2fly
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Powdercoat is the best paint for that alloy if you’re going that route.
I’m slightly aware they can be zinc-plated, but that would make them silvery.
I’m slightly aware they can be zinc-plated, but that would make them silvery.
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Birchwood Casey makes an aluminum black. It will make a smudgy looking black, mostly used for touching up scratches.
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You have to sand off the aluminum oxide layer, degrease and treat fast. Fast black or BC alum black requires the removal of oxide and contaminates for an even and solid layer. It’s tough as aluminum oxidizes rapidly when bare.
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Lots of good info. Thanks everyone!
The thing that prompted the question was my Walther LP53 … the barrel is zamac but has a finish that looks much like blued steel. Not sure how they did that. I’m sure Walther has it’s own magic, but for us mere mortals I’m thinking about black chrome … if it can be applied to zamac, that is.
The thing that prompted the question was my Walther LP53 … the barrel is zamac but has a finish that looks much like blued steel. Not sure how they did that. I’m sure Walther has it’s own magic, but for us mere mortals I’m thinking about black chrome … if it can be applied to zamac, that is.
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