How to blacken stainless steel muzzle brakes?

[Chris P Bacon]

Well I finally have a 1" Ross Brake in stainless steel. Been waiting on bushmaster's slow shipping on more crush washers. While waiting, I've decided I want to blacken this brake to match the factory 20" Barrel color (parkerized).

I know Parkerizing doesn't really take to SS.

I know it can be properly prepped, and painted. But I am the type that will go through hell to do it right the first time. No BBQ paint for me, no matte black paint that doesn't match. Also realize there's a new color of Duracote Labeled Parkerized that may satisfy my eye. But even with the proper prep work, a good oxide blast, followed by a thorough cleaning, spraying and cure time, will it hold up over the long haul?

http://www.rap4.com/p/016943/duracoat-shake-and-spray-kit-parkerized

I've read of another method that old timers use to blacken stainless, whereby they coat the SS item in linseed oil, and heat with a torch, let cool, and repeat after using another coating of linseed.

Which brings us to even more methods, ie chemical treatments listed here
http://www.finishing.com/0000-0199/019.shtml
and
http://www.caswellplating.com/metal-finishing-solutions/stainless-steel-blackener/stainless-steel-blackener-gel-kit.html
The thing that bothers me about the chemical stuff, is changing the properties of the stainless on the surface, which may allow corrosion and/or rust.

My head is spinning, and I still am no closer to getting this done.

Anyone tried any of this? and do you have pictures of the color match? Mainly, is it holding up (no chipping)? Is it non-porous, and lend well to cleaning?

[bushmeister]

I haven't tried any of those methods, but I had my 7 mag Browning Boss done by black ice coatings. It looks great.

[Avenger10]

Send it to H&M metal finishing in Akron OH and be done with it.

-Barttman

[plant_one]

stainless can be melonited too... just a fyi

[Chris P Bacon]

bushmeister » Sun Aug 07, 2016 2:18 pm

I haven't tried any of those methods, but I had my 7 mag Browning Boss done by black ice coatings. It looks great.

Wrote to them, I assume they are overwhelmingly busy, as I haven't received a reply.
But even as I wrote them, was thinking I don't want to do the whole rifle, just the brake, and how well is that going to match?

Avenger10 » Mon Aug 08, 2016 5:51 pm

Send it to H&M metal finishing in Akron OH and be done with it.

-Barttman

I wrote to H&M with no reply, But, after looking over your site Avenger10, I suddenly realized this is probably who you use to coat your stainless, so I wrote them again. This time they replied. Below;

We can definitely process your muzzle brake. We normally have a $250 minimum but if it's just one muzzle brake we can do it for $125 plus return shipping.

Thank You

Adam Rittenberry
Firearms Division Coordinator
H&M Metal Processing
330-745-3075

As with most things firearms related, you have to pay to play. Now granted that amount of money won't break the bank, but I only paid $35.00 for the Ross Brake. I need to digest paying 4 times as much (after shipping), for the coating, verses what I paid for the brake.
Might be someone out there who does small parts for less.

[Chris P Bacon]

stainless can be melonited too... just a fyi

Yep I just read up on that, which appears to be much the same as black nitride, according to wiki. Mild variation of salt bath nitriding.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferritic_nitrocarburizing

Interesting video here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiegZyhd5l0

How it's done, here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QjbOZAx2mw