Aluminium bluing instuction
Aluminium bluing instuction

Aluminum bluing – instructions for use

If you want to blue aluminum, the preparation is a little more complex than when browning iron and steel. Different alloys are also not equally suitable. You will find an overview below. Here you will find the aluminum bluing

General information

Ballistol aluminum browning is used for blackening (blackening) aluminum. It is used for a wide variety of small parts in the automotive industry, in tool and mechanical engineering as well as weapon parts. But the appearance of decorative objects is also improved. To do this, you can either blacken specific areas using aluminum browning as a brush application or blue complete aluminum parts using an immersion bath.

Aluminum bluing creates a black bluing layer on the surface through a chemical coloring reaction. Since this is specifically oxidized, the surface itself must first be prepared for the aluminum browning. By mechanically pre-cleaning the workpiece, both the natural oxide layer and other contaminants on the aluminum can be removed. The color of the bluing achieved can then vary from dark gray to black, depending on the aluminum alloy.

Application of aluminum bluing

Aluminum surfaces contain a transparent, naturally occurring oxide layer that prevents direct browning of the surface and therefore must be removed before blackening. Therefore, make sure that the surface of the aluminum is thoroughly cleaned before blackening and ensure that there are no oils, greases, waxes, flux residues, mold release agents or dust. You can achieve this, for example, by using steel wool and then cleaning with residue-free solvents such as acetone, Ballistol brake and parts cleaner, Ballistol weapon parts cleaner or Ballistol cold degreaser. Ballistol AluPrimer is also ideal for pre-treating the aluminum surface. Once the metal has been thoroughly cleaned, direct contact with hands should be avoided. We therefore recommend wearing gloves from this step onwards to prevent the risk of renewed contamination (e.g. grease/sweat from the skin). Apply the bluing within 30 minutes, otherwise a new layer of oxide will form, preventing further bluing of the aluminum.

Aluminum bluing is ready to use and formulated to be applied at room temperature (ideally 20 °C). The type of application depends on the size and shape of the workpiece. Please note the following recommendations on how to proceed.

Application as brush- and dip-bluing by using steel wool or abrasive fleece:

  1. Step 1: Using steel wool, rub the oxide layer off the surface of the aluminum piece. Then use water and a cloth to remove any steel wool residue. Alternatively, the aluminum piece can also be cleaned with a sandblaster if it is blued immediately afterwards.
  2. Step 2: Apply the bluing to the aluminum piece with a brush three times for 20 to 30 seconds each or dip it into the bluing solution, also three times for 20 to 30 seconds each. Clean the surface with a fresh cloth (dab) between each repetition.
  3. Step 3: Clean the surface with distilled water.
  4. Step 4: To ensure that the object retains its dark, black shine for a long time, it is recommended to „seal“ it with Ballistol, Gunex gun oil or Ballistol premium rust protection oil. This protects the surface from the effects of the weather.

Application as dip-bliung using the Ballistol aluminum primer:

Bluing is not a coating but, to put it simply, a discoloration caused by oxidation. The primer prepares the surface and ensures that the bluing agent works optimally.

  1. Step 1: Make sure the surface of the aluminum piece is clean and free of grease and dust. We recommend using the Ballistol brake and parts cleaner, the Ballistol weapon parts cleaner or the Ballistol cold degreaser.
  2. Step 2: Immerse the workpiece in the aluminum primer for 20 to 30 seconds and then dab away the remaining liquid with a clean, dry cloth.
  3. Step 3: Dip the aluminum piece into the bluing solution three times for 20 seconds each. Clean the surface between each repetition with a fresh cloth (dab) and distilled water.
  4. Step 4: To ensure that the object retains its dark, black shine for a long time, it is recommended to „seal“ it with Ballistol, Gunex gun oil or Ballistol premium rust protection oil. This protects the surface from the effects of the weather.

Is my alloy suitable?

Ballistol aluminum bluing is suitable for surfaces made of aluminum and aluminum alloys. The application of aluminum blackening also depends on the type of alloy you want to blacken. To give you an idea of the suitability of our aluminum browning, we tested common aluminum alloys and summarized the results in the table below. We recommend that you always test the bluing beforehand on an inconspicuous area or a comparable object in order to be able to estimate which of the above-mentioned application methods is best suited for your workpiece.

* The table shows the results after preparation with steel wool and dipping methods. The results that can be improved by using the aluminum primer are marked with an *.

Technical name of the aluminum alloy Aluminum alloy Quality of the bluing layer (undiluted) after treatment with steel wool Quality of the bluing layer (diluted 1:1) after treatment with steel wool
EN AW-1050A Al99,5 medium* good
AW-2007 AICuMgPb good medium*
AW-6082 AIMgSi1 medium* medium*
AW-2017A AICuMg1 faintly* faintly*
AW-5754 ALMg3 good good
AW-5083 AIMg4.5Mn good good
AW-7075 AIZnMgCul1,5 good good
AW-6060 AIMgSi0,5 good medium*

Safety instructions

Wear protective gloves, protective clothing, eye protection and face protection during use. Make sure there is adequate ventilation. Store the product and packaging safely in a dry, dark and well-ventilated place. Keep it away from heat, fire and open flames.