caswell plating question

[Robert P.]

Has anyone used the black phosphate product that they now sell, was on their web site and it almost looks to easy compared to the days of heating products
thanks Bob

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: caswell plating question

Bob,
I have used their black oxide process for many years and it is very easy to use and the results are superb. Except that it is not black phosphate which is more typical of factory production. Oxide is very black and shinier than phosphate. Phosphate is somewhat grayer and less intense. It is sometimes referred to as parkerizing or even gun bluing. I just checked their website and I didn't find any black phosphate unless I missed it. Can you post a link to it?
Jeff

[Ed S.]

Re: caswell plating question

I've refinished a number of fasteners and parts to create the black phosphate look. I haven't used Caswell's product but from my research the solution that you use to blacken bare steel is all the same pretty much - some suppliers sell a more concentrated product which produces a very dark finish - others are more charcoal grey. I have a quart of stuff from a company that is no longer on the internet but the product is a manganese based solution - the same as the product I am referencing here. https://www.palmettoenterprisesparke...ese-quart-32oz You add a small amount to a qt of distilled water, bring it to a simmer and drop your parts into it - the longer you leave them in the darker they get. Remove with a magnet or needle nose pliers and then quickly dry and soak in WD40. Parts look good - coating does not wear off. As for the Caswell's (easy stuff)...... I prefer the good old fashion way......

Yeah - to correct the record. The product I've used are classified as "parkerizing" solutions, not BH. But.... slow cook it long enough and then treat it to a bath of WD40 - after it dries and cools it is hard to tell the difference. I have applied a paste wax to some bolt heads after it cools - then wiped off the excess. They look great.

[Richard M.]

Re: caswell plating question

Ed you don't cook broccoli in that pot after you're done do you?

What does it do to the pot.... seriously?

[Ed S.]

Re: caswell plating question

Nope! And not kale either - any kale residue in the pot contaminates the parkerizeing solution.
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Seriously, all the "instructions" you find on the internet advise using a stainless steel pot. You can get a 1 or 2 quart SS pot with a glass lid at WalMart pretty cheap. The solution does nothing to the SS, it comes completely clean. I have one of those one-burner camp stoves that runs off of a small bottle of propane (also WalMart - also cheap). I also have a set of small SS measuring cups (cheap) - when I need to do just a few small fasteners I use the smallest "cooking" container that will hold the parts - put in some distilled water, then a cap full of parkerizing solution, and cook away. Trying to reduce the amount of solution I have to prepare - After it is heated once the solution doesn't keep - it crystalizes and has to be thrown out.

[Richard M.]

Re: caswell plating question

Thanks Ed, I may try this some day. I have LOTS of bolts.

Rich

[Ed S.]

Re: caswell plating question

Good luck - one of the procedural steps that some "instructions" stress and others do not is.... you really have to get the items you are going to treat clean - I mean really clean. No paint or grease residue - after cleaning off all paint, grease and original finish (industry applied black phosphorus residue) - I give them a 20 second dip in a 50/50 muraitic and water solution. Then rinse with tap water. They get a final bath in denatured alcohol (if I have handled them at all) before going into the pot.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: caswell plating question

I used to use Shooters Solution for the phosphate which gave a perfect "sparkly" finish. Unfortunately they are gone so I have been looking for a substitute. I would really love to be able to just walk into a store here in Detroit and buy it rather than have to pay for the shipping. I'm just old fashioned, I guess.
Jeff

[Patrick H.]

Re: caswell plating question

I have a quart of stuff from a company that is no longer on the internet but the product is a manganese based solution - the same as the product I am referencing here. https://www.palmettoenterprisesparke...ese-quart-32oz .

They sell on eBay now.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ssn=palmettoenterprises_21&_trksid=p2505460.m570.l50838

Both manganese (black phosphate) and zinc (gray phosphate) are available.

Jeff, give them a try.

[Ed S.]

Re: caswell plating question

Yeah, I am finding fewer and fewer sources for the parkerizing solution. Even internet sources are less and less.

[James G.]

Re: caswell plating question

I use the Palmetto solutions as well, they are local to me.

Black Zinc is a more durable black coating, it is used on the smog trees which screw into the exhaust manifolds.

[Robert P.]

Re: caswell plating question

Jeff I used the wrong wording , should have said the black oxide concentrate . I was looking at a lot of different products and got mixed up
getting old fast
Bob Peckham

[Frank C.]

Re: caswell plating question

Good morning all I have attached pictures of clean up and results using the Caswell kit. I feel I got excellent results. Like others have said best results come from a systematic process and preparation. I start by careful disassembly, then grouping of parts with plenty of pictures. Then a process of evaporust, stainless brushes, acid bath, neutralize/rinse with clean distilled water, Caswell application and a light coat of linseed oil.

[Owen L.]

Re: caswell plating question

IMG_2679.jpg
Those look great Frank. How susceptible to marring from a wrench is the treatment - about the same as the factory black oxide?

[Ed S.]

Re: caswell plating question

I use a different product / solution than Frank - his look great. And I can tell you that the black finish does not marring or other deterioration from wrenching or handling. I think the deterioration occurs from oxidation and a function of moisture and time. And, lets face it, most of us that restore a C2 are not going to drive it daily in all kinds of weather - so.... the black finish can be reasonably expected to last a long time. I've coated a number of fasteners 4 - 5 years ago and they are showing zero deterioration.