Garden Railway Forum

Can any of our very helpful members help me please. I would like to know, how can I Blacken Stainless Steel. I am doing a little project and I want to Blacken some 2mm Stainless Steel Rod.
I have seen that Birchwood Casey stuff, but they do say it's not for stainless steel.

Heating it will color it.

I did think about that Busted, we don't have gas hobs now at our new home. I do have a Butane torch though, but where it is in the garage is anyones guess..

Thanks for the reply though..

Isn't the clue in the name?

Although it may be possible, it is stainless steel, after all..

Well I did succeed with the use of my gas torch.


Stainless steel will blacken after thinking about, well not really dark black. look at motor bike and cars with stainless exhaust pipes.......

Rod to blacked and keep black by heat, polish, then heat to 320C slowly, the colour should change through straw to deep purple, do not heat further, but quench in oil, but be careful, this will "blue" the steel correctly. If done with mild steel this will slow or even prevent corrosion under normal conditions, I have items in the garage produced as an apprentice 50 years ago still not rusty.

Thanks Jimmy, that is good to know.