Curti Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 The washers under the head bolts of 34-36 Auburn were parkerized black from the factory. I have looked high and low for the correct size and can only find them in 306 stainless. Is there any way to discolor the stainless to a dark grey or black? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 I have a friend in the antique Harley business. He parkerizes, if you want I can put you in touch with him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curti Posted May 28, 2015 Author Share Posted May 28, 2015 I parkerize zinc and black manganese too, but s/s is impervious to it. Thanks for the thought Jack! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 (edited) I suppose you have considered paint but it is too plebian for your Auburn? If it was mine I would polish the stainless steel washers and put chrome acorn nut covers on the bolt heads. Edited May 28, 2015 by Rusty_OToole (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curti Posted May 28, 2015 Author Share Posted May 28, 2015 I strive for an authentic restoration. Just the way the car sat on the showroom floor after dealer prep. No better no worse.Everyone's hobby is different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 The washers under the head bolts of 34-36 Auburn were parkerized black from the factory. I have looked high and low for the correct size and can only find them in 306 stainless. Is there any way to discolor the stainless to a dark grey or black? I'm guessing a few minutes work on a small lathe could rework nearly the right size steel washers into right size washers ready for Parkerizing...........Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curti Posted May 28, 2015 Author Share Posted May 28, 2015 There are 27 per set. I supply them to other Auburn owners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 What are the dimensions?.................Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MochetVelo Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Caswell sells a stainless steel blackening kit. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curti Posted May 28, 2015 Author Share Posted May 28, 2015 Caswell sells a stainless steel blackening kit. PhilThis is the kind of solution I was looking for. I bought some. I'll let you know how it works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MochetVelo Posted June 1, 2015 Share Posted June 1, 2015 I find it works on some alloys and not others. The regular "steel" blackening solution I get from Eastwood works on most zinc-plated hardware, by the way. Caswell is fairly helpful, so contact them if you need advice. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Friartuck Posted June 1, 2015 Share Posted June 1, 2015 Powder coating perhaps?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beltfed Posted June 1, 2015 Share Posted June 1, 2015 Be aware, you will need to roughten the surface for the product to stick. We use a bead blaster with 80 or 100 grit aluminum oxide. The product you may be getting is call 'black oxide'. Be careful if you de decide to use it as it will eat on your skin. A product we use on SST parts like the gas cylinder on M1 Garands is called 'GunKoat'. It is very hard paint which gets baked on. We spray it on military sniper rifles using an air brush. Flat black would be your color choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carbking Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 Assuming (I don't know) these are round washers and that you can find a standard steel washer of the correct thickness and inner diameter, and larger outer diameter: Make a fixture for your lathe with a boss to chuck, a "round area" about 0.003 less than the I.D. as long as needed, and a threaded end. Put how ever many washers on the fixture, tighten a nut on the end, and make a pass with the cutting tool to redo the outer diameter. Now you are ready to finish the washers. Jon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curti Posted June 5, 2015 Author Share Posted June 5, 2015 The Caswell product came. The instructions are straight forward. The product is light blue but darkens 306 stainless to a nice grey black. If the surface gets scratched it won't rust. Life is good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Old School Plating Posted June 6, 2015 Share Posted June 6, 2015 We offer black oxide on stainless steel using the old school mixtures. Stainless steel is not easy to blacken even with the correct chemisty because of the wide range of stainless alloys. we've been processing black oxide on stainless for over 45 years and in some cases we will adjust the oxide mixture to accomade the alloy composition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LI_BENTLEY Posted June 7, 2015 Share Posted June 7, 2015 If you are going to "strive for an authentic restoration" you would make and use the steel washers and blacken them, but then we all cheat a little. and it is ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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