When it comes to working on old cars, the battle against rust is never-ending.
In this Hagerty DIY video short, Davin Reckow walks you through blackening your steel and cast-iron parts with black oxide in order to add a layer of protection against rust and corrosion.
What is Insta-Blak 333
Insta-Blak 333 is an immersion/swab-on blackening solution that results in a smooth satin black finish on tools, steel and cast-iron surfaces.
Use Insta-Blak 333 to:
- Coat metal items with a glossy, grey-black finish
- Blacken metal parts at room temperature in only 1–5 minutes
- Achieve clean, smut-free finishes and dimensional stability
- Reduce heating and energy costs
- Avoid hazardous caustic fume
- Blacken cold- and hot-rolled steels, cast iron, powdered metals, tool steels, and sterling silver
Insta-Blak 333 is a black-oxide process designed to make in-house blackening simpler, faster, and more effective while still achieving an aesthetically pleasing black finish.
One gallon of un-diluted Insta-Blak 333 concentrate can coat approximately 400–500 sq. ft. of metal part surface.
EPi offers 2-liter trial kits and 5-gallon short-run production kits for short-term projects. Learn more about what is included in the trial kit and the short-run production kit.
More info on the Insta-Blak 333 product here: https://www.epi.com/black-oxide/steel/room/insta-blak-333/
Using Insta-Blak 333 to Blacken Steel and Cast Iron
How To Blacken Steel and Cast Iron Using Black Oxide Coating
- Clean
In a steel container, thoroughly clean the parts in a 10% by volume solution of E-Kleen SR 148-E and 90% by volume of water. The cleaning time will depend upon the type and degree of soil present on the metal surfaces and the concentration and temperature of the E-Kleen SR-148-E solution.
- Rinse
Using a plastic container, rinse the parts for 1-2 minutes in clear running room temperature water.
- Activate (optional)
Using a plastic container, activate the surface of the parts in a 20% by volume E-Prep 258 solution and 80% by volume water for 2 minutes for optimal activation at room temperature.
- Rinse (if Activated)
Using a plastic container, rinse the parts for 1-2 minutes in clear running room temperature water.
- Blacken
In a plastic container, blacken the parts in a 10% by volume solution of Insta-Blak 333 and 90% by volume of water at room temperature for 2-5 minutes.
- Rinse
Using a plastic container, rinse the parts for 1-2 minutes in clear running room temperature water.
- Seal and Finish
In a steel container, seal the finish and enhance the depth of blackness.
Option 7a. For an oily finish: use E-Tec 501
Option 7b. For a slightly oily to a semi-dry finish: use E-Tec 503
Option 7c. For a soft, non-tacky, dry-to-the-touch finish: E-Tec 504 or E-Tec 505+
Place the blackened parts into the E-Tec solution of your choice, and agitate 6-12 times up and down (about 1-2 minutes).
Air dry for 15-30 minutes.
Typically, 24 hours later, the part will be blacker as the oil absorbs into the blackened finish
