New and old bolts

[jim1932]

Is there a trick to "age" bolts and nuts? I am missing a some bolts here and there on my car and hate to see shiny bolts on an old patina car. Not looking to paint them just get that dark grey most of my bolts are. Thinking maybe non-plated bolts and soaking them in something? (yes I know I can put out a wanted for the missing bolts and probably get them, but that is time consuming).

Thanks

[51 MERC-CT]

Try gun blue/black.

[Cecil/WV]

Lay them out in the weather for a couple of years. Oh, that's right, you are in a hurry.

[G.M.]

It's more important to get the correct bolts, they will age themselves. The Ford bolts were better steel, no head markings and thicker heads. Try Roy Nausawitz (spelling).
G.M.

[tiger.1000]

Assuming they're not plated; this is what I did to my spark plugs.

Teflon coated. Satin finish and durable.....

[Ralph Moore]

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I've filed the markings off new bolts and parkerized them.

[russcc]

Great ideas, how do you parkerize something. I have seen L-100 camshafts that were Parkerized.

[DavidG]

You can kill the shine on zinc or cadmium-plated fasteners in a hurry by emersing them briefly in metal prep (weak phosphoric acid).

[Charlie Stephens]

Originally Posted by G.M.

It's more important to get the correct bolts, they will age themselves. The Ford bolts were better steel, no head markings and thicker heads. Try Roy Nausawitz (spelling). G.M.

I always have trouble with spelling his name. Try Roy Nacewicz Parts, (313) 383-3673, fordbolts.com

Charlie Stephens

[FL&WVMIKE]

You live in a populated area. I bet there are plenty of "fastener" stores around. Call then, to see if they have black finished bolts and nuts. I forget the name, but they will probably have what you want.
MIKE (mikeburch)

[Andyr]

I took the shine off new bolts by dipping them in diluted muriatic acid (swimming pool acid).......worked well!

[Ralph Moore]

Originally Posted by russcc

Great ideas, how do you parkerize something. I have seen L-100 camshafts that were Parkerized.

I have a friend who's a gunsmith, but I think it involves phosphoric acid???

[51 MERC-CT]

The result of dipping cad plated bolt (twice ) in gun bluing.

[hardtimes]

Hey Jim,
I second the 'gun bluing method...also works well on spark plugs. Most gun shops sell gun bluing, but buying/shopping on line give you more choice, IMO

The pool acid (phosphoric) does a quick/easy job..do not put nose/fingers to close to this stuff,eh !

[35 coupe]

Heat them with a propane torch and drop them in used motor oil. Don't need much heat.

[jim1932]

Originally Posted by 51 MERC-CT

The result of dipping cad plated bolt (twice ) in gun bluing.

This looks like what I am trying to do.

All my bolts and screws are from Roy, but I am only replacing what I need to. I hate the look of an old car with new bolts.

[Ralph Moore]

Originally Posted by 35 coupe

Heat them with a propane torch and drop them in used motor oil. Don't need much heat.

I remember doing something similar while making M1 Garand sling frogs,
We heated them and then sprayed them with WD40.
Makes them nice and black and lasts.
Just be sure to turn your torch off before you spray!

[the cooch]

The proper Ford bolts do look best! However, it's also fun to tinker out in the shop! I love my belt sander... Grinding off marks and rounding bolt heads a bit, then washing with soap and water, then alcohol scrub preps them nicely for a color change. Don't touch, oil from hands will make it spotty. After drying; two dips in the sporting goods store gunbluing for nice blue-grey-black color, torch and different temps and types of oil for purple-brown shades, or order up the nice, machinist "tool blackening" which soaks in deep enough for a little buffy-buff or looks flaaat blaaaack! Then a little oil or WD or wax rubbed in at the end. All these processes are super easy and safe, and fun to watch! Woo-hoo! Science! I've done a lot of acid, whoops, I mean metal patinas with a lot of acid, and chemicals and wax resists and engraving and electricity and paint etc. and I prefer to keep it mellow in the garage at home, chemically speaking. Trying to lay off the "fumes" these days...

[moefuzz]

Originally Posted by 35 coupe

Heat them with a propane torch and drop them in used motor oil. Don't need much heat.

The only correct answer here.

Ford boiled fasteners in oil. It makes them less prone to rust and/or seizing.

Drop them in boiling straight weight oil.


.

[FL&WVMIKE]

Originally Posted by moefuzz

The only correct answer here.

Ford boiled fasteners in oil. It makes them less prone to rust and/or seizing.

Drop them in boiling straight weight oil.


.

moefuzz ....................
It must have worked. I have found that the old original Ford bolts can, almost, always be broken free, while replaced bolts are the ones that break off.
MIKE (mikeburch)

[jim1932]

Originally Posted by moefuzz

The only correct answer here.

Ford boiled fasteners in oil. It makes them less prone to rust and/or seizing.

Drop them in boiling straight weight oil.


.

OK, I'm slow. what is straight weight oil? like 30 rather than 10w30?

[russcc]

Second Mike's opinion. Never broke one Fords excellent quality bolts, and some of them had serious blue flame busting rust. Always save any Ford Bolt/nut and steel. It's the best steel there is. Cuts and machines nice. Ford driveshaft steel is awesome.

[35fordtn]

Phosphoric acid

[29AVEE8]

Try soaking them in weasel urine.

[Mr. Will]

Originally Posted by 29AVEE8

Try soaking them in weasel urine.

I have a weasel at the end of my driveway. Just seen him yesterday. Will try and catch him and give it a try...

[Mart]

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Originally Posted by moefuzz

The only correct answer here.

Ford boiled fasteners in oil. It makes them less prone to rust and/or seizing.

Drop them in boiling straight weight oil.


.

But one would assume these bolts were plain steel before treatment. Bolts you buy these days are bright zinc plated. Would you have to remove the plating first, then boil em in oil?

I always reuse ford bolts, as stated above the ones that break are normally ones that are non-ford.

Mart.

[the cooch]

Boiling temp of blended motor/machine oil is around 600 degrees Fahrenheit. I don't think i can get a pail of 30 weight that hot on my coleman stove in the garage, but I'm curious now. I wonder what kind of oil was used by Ford. Probably a lot more feasable at a foundry but could one use a kiln or blacksmith forge? Easy to torch bolts that hot and dunk em, but boiling oil is handy for repelling intruders during a siege of your castle as well.

[Ralph Moore]

I keep mine right next to the Trebuchet.

[alchemy]

If I want to age some new zinc-plated bolts to look old, I soak them in Coke for a day or two. It takes the shine off and will leave a little dirty looking brown in the corners. Leave them in for too long and they will be bare steel.

[jerseyboy]

Jim,
What did you end up doing? I am debating what method to use for my new shiny shackles.

Thanks
Keep 4-banging!

[jim1932]

Originally Posted by jerseyboy

Jim,
What did you end up doing? I am debating what method to use for my new shiny shackles.

Thanks
Keep 4-banging!

Damn.... how fast you think I do stuff...???

[jim1932]

actually in the last group of model a parts I took out of my Dad's barn ere some bolts the right size. probably 70's repop but properly "aged"