For hundreds of years, weapons manufacturers have used a process to protect the metal components of their weapons. The process has been called many things, but in the context of weapons, it is usually called blueing. It is the process of protecting the metal surfaces of a firearm to keep it from rusting or corroding. This process may have gained notoriety in weapons manufacturing but it is also very useful for any kind of metal. If you are restoring a classic car, you could definitely benefit from blacking.
In the Past
In the past, blacking was done through complicated means that have mostly been lost to time. Researchers are not entirely sure how the old processes worked. As far as researchers can tell, manufacturers dissolved copper in acid of some kind. They then submerged the metal parts to be blacked in that acid. After removing it, they buried the piece in the ground for several weeks. When they brought it out, it was blued. The specifics are not quite understood, but it is clear that the modern process is very similar to that; however, it is much more efficient. A chemical blacking kit can help you protect your automobile parts from rust and corrosion for a very long time.
How It Works
Classic car parts are susceptible to rust and corrosion because they typically are made from ferrous metals, which are metals containing iron. More aluminium and synthetic substances are used in cars now, but older cars used a lot of iron and steel. You can protect them from rust and corrosion by applying paint and/or some kind of sealant, but that is only a temporary solution. If you are restoring a classic car, you know how paint can chip and fade and sealant can pit and dissolve. If you want a solution that won’t fade or wash away, you need to black your car parts.
Blacking the parts works by applying the blacking solution to the metal. The solution does not sit on top of the metal as a protection, like paint or sealant might. Instead, it actually causes a chemical change to the surface of the metal. The molecules of the surface are actually changed, and they become resistant to rust and corrosion. This is important because the protection cannot simply be washed off.
Cost Efficiency
When you are restoring a classic car, you probably want to keep your prices low because there are so many other things you have to pay for. Many things that happen to a vehicle are recurring costs as well. For example, you have to constantly fix parts that can malfunction repeatedly. However, if you black your floor pans or your frame metal, you won’t have to do it again. It will protect those parts for a very long time.
If you black the parts most susceptible to rust and corrosion, you will reduce the amount of money you have to spend on restoring and maintaining your classic car. Furthermore, you will be able to create a very unique look for your classic car. The metal of firearms is so popular that it is a colour in and of itself. You can get that colour, along with its many protective benefits.