Caswell Black Oxide Kit - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**Trash** · 09-28-2020, 02:33 PM

I've read some post of those using the Caswell Black Oxide Kit. Was wondering if this kit is any good and worth the cost. I have a few specialty bolts and springs that need re-coated. Thanks

tim_mc · 09-28-2020, 10:03 PM

Instead of the kit, I bought a pint of the black oxide concentrate which is currently $28.99. It mixes with distilled water at 8:1 or 9:1, so a little goes a long way. Wire-wheel or sandblast the bolts, soak in black oxide for a few minutes, rinse distilled water and seal with WD-40.

Video of CudaCody showing the process I did:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vTn...annel=CudaCody

**IronCanine** · 09-28-2020, 10:21 PM

I have always sent hardware out to be plated/coated. With varying results.

Member 71CHEVYSHORTBED402 (Tony) has some good info about different hardware coatings in his build thread of late:

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...=730025&page=5

But with regard to Caswell systems, while I have not had personal experience, I am following a 911 build on YouTube that highlights them. It is a garage build and the owner has done all his plating himself with various Caswell systems...and raves about them. Both the product and the technical support.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOB...9wdFIUy6pQ_4sA

I have been thinking about trying it out on my next build, because there are always cases where you just need to do a couple of bolts that didn't get sent in with the "big lot" to the plater. If you do try it out, please post your experience with pics.

Benchracer · 02-22-2022, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tim_mc

Instead of the kit, I bought a pint of the black oxide concentrate which is currently $28.99. It mixes with distilled water at 8:1 or 9:1, so a little goes a long way. Wire-wheel or sandblast the bolts, soak in black oxide for a few minutes, rinse distilled water and seal with WD-40.

Video of CudaCody showing the process I did:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vTn...annel=CudaCody

tim_mc,

How have those bolts held up to the elements using the WD-40 to seal?

tim_mc · 02-23-2022, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benchracer

tim_mc,

How have those bolts held up to the elements using the WD-40 to seal?

So far so good, however I keep the truck in the garage and try to avoid bad weather.

**BigBird05** · 02-23-2022, 10:43 PM

I bought that kit. I had varying results with it. I tried sand blasting a controlled set of bolts, Wire wheeling a set, using a liquid deruster and even tried a rock tumbler. It was a little cold out last fall so I will try again this spring when it warms up.

Accelo · 02-24-2022, 02:22 AM

I have used just a blacken kit. Seems the result varied wildly depending the type of steel and the surface finish. Most the bolts turned out excellent. Some of the mild steel items were what I would describe as a grayish green. Same solution same temp same day. I was very pleased with the results on the bolts.

The black bolts are just one easy step from raw steel and the finish didn't last long in the best of conditions.
Not unlike the asphalt based frame paint GM used. Cheap stuff that made them look good when new. We used to get large black iron pipe covered with the same paint at work. Typically we would lite at torch and just run it over the area we were going to cut. Could remove all the paint on the OD of a 12" pipe in seconds using that method.

09-28-2020, 02:33 PM	#1
Trash Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Bentonville, AR Posts: 66	Caswell Black Oxide Kit I've read some post of those using the Caswell Black Oxide Kit. Was wondering if this kit is any good and worth the cost. I have a few specialty bolts and springs that need re-coated. Thanks Attached Images

09-28-2020, 10:03 PM	#2
tim_mc Registered User Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: St Peters, MO Posts: 433	Re: Caswell Black Oxide Kit Instead of the kit, I bought a pint of the black oxide concentrate which is currently $28.99. It mixes with distilled water at 8:1 or 9:1, so a little goes a long way. Wire-wheel or sandblast the bolts, soak in black oxide for a few minutes, rinse distilled water and seal with WD-40. Video of CudaCody showing the process I did: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vTn...annel=CudaCody __________________ 1967 C20, 350 SBC w/Comp roller cam, 700R4 w/3.42 posi, PS, 4-wheel PDB, Old Air AC & GM Tilt column.

09-28-2020, 10:21 PM	#3
IronCanine I'm trying.... Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 2,535	Re: Caswell Black Oxide Kit I have always sent hardware out to be plated/coated. With varying results. Member 71CHEVYSHORTBED402 (Tony) has some good info about different hardware coatings in his build thread of late: https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...=730025&page=5 But with regard to Caswell systems, while I have not had personal experience, I am following a 911 build on YouTube that highlights them. It is a garage build and the owner has done all his plating himself with various Caswell systems...and raves about them. Both the product and the technical support. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOB...9wdFIUy6pQ_4sA I have been thinking about trying it out on my next build, because there are always cases where you just need to do a couple of bolts that didn't get sent in with the "big lot" to the plater. If you do try it out, please post your experience with pics. __________________ 1970 Blazer http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=645076 1969 K10 SWB CST http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...52#post8520352 1971 K20 Z84 https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...90#post9047290 1946 B.F. Avery Model A Tractor http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...55#post8292555 "Sometimes I wonder if zander208 was even real..."

02-23-2022, 10:43 PM	#6
BigBird05 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Cheraw Posts: 1,305	Re: Caswell Black Oxide Kit I bought that kit. I had varying results with it. I tried sand blasting a controlled set of bolts, Wire wheeling a set, using a liquid deruster and even tried a rock tumbler. It was a little cold out last fall so I will try again this spring when it warms up.

02-24-2022, 02:22 AM	#7
Accelo Registered User Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: washington Posts: 2,157	Re: Caswell Black Oxide Kit I have used just a blacken kit. Seems the result varied wildly depending the type of steel and the surface finish. Most the bolts turned out excellent. Some of the mild steel items were what I would describe as a grayish green. Same solution same temp same day. I was very pleased with the results on the bolts. The black bolts are just one easy step from raw steel and the finish didn't last long in the best of conditions. Not unlike the asphalt based frame paint GM used. Cheap stuff that made them look good when new. We used to get large black iron pipe covered with the same paint at work. Typically we would lite at torch and just run it over the area we were going to cut. Could remove all the paint on the OD of a 12" pipe in seconds using that method.



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