We’ll, Black oxide is the same process as what is commonly referred in firearms trade as Bluing. In the industrial trade it has always been referred to as black oxide, since the finish that is achieved is purposely “Black” in appearance. The firearms trade has always favored a slight variance in the chemical solution in the process to achieve a slight blue color to the process, which of course why folks in the firearms trade refer to it as “Bluing”. The actual process is exactly the same, just a very slight change in chemical additives in the actual salt bath mixture. There are several suppliers who offer black oxide / bluing salts. Depending upon the color you are looking will depend upon which brand you choose. However, almost all of them offer the salts in dry powder/crystal form. Brownells, Inc offers the best solution for salts if you are looking a “Blue” color, such as in refinishing Smith & Wesson revolvers. Du-lite® offers their brand of salts and they are blacker than say Brownells, Inc’s brand, but still not Midnight Black™.
We currently only sell liquid solution for our black oxide process, for two reasons mainly. One because we have had this custom made to our specifications, providing an absolute black to the metal which is blackened, which we sell with the trade name, Midnight Black™ The other reason and a very important one is that is operates 100% better than in crystal or powder form, which is the more common in the hobby/gunsmith availability. The actual composition of any of the black oxide chemicals whether it be in powder form or liquid form consist of three main ingredients; Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Nitrate and Sodium Nitrite. The differences in different brands of blackening salts is in the color it provides in the metal coloring process, which is trace amount of mainly proprietary chemicals.
The actual blackening or Bluing chemical reaction process takes place when iron metal is subjected to a heated salt solution at temperatures between 260-310 degrees Fahrenheit. For further details in this exact process, please refer to our processing manual.
All of our systems are made here in the United States. We are very proud to produce a high quality end-consumer product by American labor.
We have worked very hard to maintain all of our manufacturing processes here in the United States. We will continue to do so as we grow. We will not deviate from our founding principles that we all should strive to produce our products here in the United States. We feel we have proven that one can be competitive in the marketplace without having to import our goods.