Blacking Aluminum

[Catcar67]

I have a rifle with an aluminum receiver and the anodizing was more red/orange than black. Researching online there were the options of dismantling the gun and have the part anodized (very costly), painting it with matt black Hi-temp paint (a little on the short-life span) or using Birchwood Casey Aluminum Black (time consuming). I did a quick clean and apply of blacking solution and wasn't happy at all. Then I tried sanding off the old anodizing (to bare aluminum) on a test spot and doing the clean and solution steps. After about 4 light applications, I had a nice black aluminum finish. It's a bit of slow work to sand (multiple grits) and apply at least 4 cycles of cleaning and solution but I have 2 sides of the receiver done. It's not quite the same as the anodized part but a lot better than it was.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I have used the Birchwood Casey product on freshly machined bare aluminum with great success.

 

[Drail]

But it will not hold up for long. I used it years ago for minor touch ups on customer's alum. guns. It's like cold bluing - you can make it look pretty good but it's not very hard and will wear off with use. On alum. guns your best choices are having it "painted" with a shake and bake finish or having it completely re anodized.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Could nickel plate it.....

 

[SGW Gunsmith]

I've had very good luck with Dura-Coat and baking it to harden the finish. This O.D. green finish was baked at 200° for one-hour. Has held up very well so far:

 

[Catcar67]

I know it isn't nearly as durable as anodizing but since this particular gun is one of my "hanger queens" in the gun safe, it doesn't come out very often.

 

[DFDelozier]

Alumna-hyde II from Brownell's work well and looks decent.