Black oxide to be more precise. Been experimenting with the gun cold blues available on amazon recently on some hairpin legs for a live edge table & rehabing some machinist tools.


Got fed up with surface rust on stuff in the unheated shop so I ordered some Caswell concentrate w/ their penetrating oil. Gave an abrasive tumble to a bunch of small stuff, hit it with aerosol brake cleaner (spray acetone?) and double dipped (dip/rinse/dry/repeat)in the black oxide followed by a quick bath in the oil.


Previously used this on some machine steel parts of a Veritas carving vise and it is looking like it may prevent them from re-rusting this winter. Fingers crossed. It's a PITA but better than letting everything go to heck.
Anyone else using similar stuff to protect metal or as patina on projects?
RMW