I send out the zinc plating. We do use a tool blackening product in the shop, in a pinch. It's not as durable as the black zinc phosphate that gets done by the industrial plater. Some of the parts that are brownish gray, like brackets and other MB specific parts were done in an iron phosphate process, sometimes known as "Bonderizing". Some people assume that this is untreated metal because of the color. My plater does not do this and maybe I will eventually find someone who does. The black zinc phosphate is not jet black unless it is oiled, so it suffices. For a really high quality finish on black, they do a zinc with black, or black over zinc, but this is more expensive because they have to wire hang all the parts. Supposedly it is also less scratch resistant. My plater will either oil the job or not. I'm not sure what that product is. Usually standard hardware I have oiled, but I rinse most of it off.
Here is my supplier for the blackening chemicals:
( SKU: PRE-45118 , Description: Metal Polish/Cleanser, 1 pint , Quantity: 2 )
( SKU: PRE-45109 , Description: Tool Black - one quart , Quantity: 1 )
Order Total: $106.34
Victor Machinery Exchange, Inc.
56 Bogart Street
Brooklyn, NY 11206-3817
Phone: 800.723.5359
International: 718.366.9293
Fax: 718.366.7026
Email:
sales@victornet.com