Black Oxide and Black Phosphate Question

[Christopher J. Bunsey]

Is Black Oxide and Black Phosphate the same finish? I need to refinish the two acorn nuts that hold on the gas lid emblem and the gas door spring. I see there is a kit for Black Phosphate, but not oxide. Can anyone suggest someone who can do this that wont cost a fortune?

Thanks!

[Rob A.]

Re: Black Oxide and Black Phosphate Question

Black phosphate is more of a rough, granular appearing finish. Oxide is sometimes referred to as black zinc, and has a smooth finish. I found a place here, in S. California, for both, but they have a minimum charge. Most places won't tell you, but they just send it out to someone else for the work.

[Jack H.]

Re: Black Oxide and Black Phosphate Question

No, the two finishes are similar yet different. Black oxide is dull black while black phosphate is brighter with particles that 'sparkle' in reflected light.

[Rob A.]

the black phosphate coating on parts is usually...

....covered with machine oil or similar, and the roughness is meant to help the oil adhere to it. Check out recent postings on the board by Jerry Fuccillo who recently did quite a bit of this type of work by himself.

[Steve Wallach]

Re: Black Oxide and Black Phosphate Question

Where do you have it done in S. Cal?
The place I used locally closed a year or so ago.

Thanks,

Steve

[Rob A.]

Re: Black Oxide and Black Phosphate Question

Chris,

Sounds like you just have a couple of small parts....OEM Paints makes a spray Zinc Phospaint(20-1010 BLACK)..if you spray it from a distance it goes on with a grainy appearance that looks pretty correct. They are in Escondido CA....don't know their website.

[Rob A.]

Call 1 800 BLACKIT...they can explain all... *NM*

[Christopher J. Bunsey]

Re: Call 1 800 BLACKIT...they can explain all...

That number does not work from OH. Do you have a regular #?

Thanks

[Rob A.]

Re: Black Oxide and Black Phosphate Question

Steve,

Try calling 1800 BLACKIT...they're in Anahiem. If they can't help you, I'll dig through my receipts for the place that did mine. They told me they did the work themselves, but I found out they sent it elsewhere.

[Rob A.]

714 870 9610 *NM*

[Steve Wallach]

Re: Black Oxide and Black Phosphate Question

Thanks Rob,

Steve

[Gerard F.]

Re: Black Oxide and Black Phosphate Question

Christopher,

If you are just going to be doing 2 nuts, I'd use the Black Oxide kits (which I think are more readily available) or paint them as Rob suggests.

Black Phosphate is slightly different then Black Oxide, in that it has a rougher more speckled finish, and is the result of phosphoric acid deposit of crystals on the part.

In true black phosphate, the black is from manganese phosphate which I don't think anybody puts out a kit for.

However, I think I've replicated black phosphate by doing a zinc phosphate (gray) process and adding black oxide. See the current Restorer issue.

I think the speckles are mainly from the phosphate crystals formed, the black oxide gives the coloring.

Jerry Fuccillo
#42179

[Alan S.]

Re: Black Oxide and Black Phosphate Question

Chris,
About ten years ago I bought some zinc phosphate and manganese phosphate for a procedure called parkerizing ferrous metals. The zinc is dark gray, and the manganese is so dark gray that it looks black. I was at the Knoxsville, Tenn. Corvette show and swap meet, and purchased it from Palmetto Enterprises in Greenville, South Carolina. (803- 246-3836) I have not seen this offered anywhere since, so I don't know if they even exist any more. Both work very well to this day and a splash will burn a hole in your clothes faster than you can say "Corvette." Perhaps you can track them down.
Regards, Alan

[Greg L.]

Re: Black Oxide and Black Phosphate Question

Just a heads up...parkerizing is what a lot of gun restorers use to restore the finish on, well, guns. If you do a google search on parkerizing you will find that there are quite a few places in the states will sell it in both the grey and black kits. I have never tried these kits because it was such a PITA to get it across the border that I ended up getting everything that I needed from Grant Wong up here in Canada. I would have liked to try one of the parkerizing kits to see how they compare but never did because I was quite happy with the results of adding the black oxide to the grey phosphate as Jerry has done.