How to Hot Blue you Knife Blades For Less than $75.00
By Wil Hurley
www.hurleyknives.com
If you find any typos or errors email me wil@hurleyknives.com (I’m not an English
major. )
You can have a home bluing setup for next to nothing in cost, you will have more
money in bluing salts than in the equipment. This is just my way of doing things, I could
not afford the $700+ professional bluing setups. I hope this helps other knifemakers
to hot blue their blades.
First Safety when bluing
Bluing is dangerous because it is very caustic and should be done outside or in a well ventilated
place when possible. Also Glove, and Eye protection are a must. This stuff will give you a
chemical burn if it is wet and contacts you skin (You don’t want it in you eyes). Also as we all
know open flames are dangerous, you don’t want to burn you shop down. Again just take you
time and be very careful.
What equipment you need to get your bluing setup (Picture is below)
1. Turkey Cooker (Pan) From Walmart $10.00– It is very important that your container that you
blue items in cannot be stainless steel. It has to either be made of mild steel or coated with
a ceramic coating. The turkey cooker from walmart has a coating on it that protects the bluing
from getting contaminated.
2. Propane burner $0 to $30.00- I used a used burner for deep frying turkeys. You can
probably pick on of these up free, or at little cost. It has to be adjustable and put out enough
flame to get the Bluing salts to 300 degrees F.
3.Thermometer – $5.00 I picked mine up at walmart again. I have two different types, just to
make sure my temp is constant in the bluing. Thermometer should read up to at least 400
degrees F.
4.Propane tank $30-$ 45 – 30lb tank for a grill will work just fine and last quite a long time.
5.1 Plastic buckets $1 each– From walmart
6.Plastic Cup – to dip blades in to oil them.
*Supplies are around $75 if you buy everything new, but if you look around most stuff
can be had for free. So All you would need to buy would be the bluing salts and oil.
By Wil Hurley
www.hurleyknives.com
If you find any typos or errors email me wil@hurleyknives.com (I’m not an English
major. )
You can have a home bluing setup for next to nothing in cost, you will have more
money in bluing salts than in the equipment. This is just my way of doing things, I could
not afford the $700+ professional bluing setups. I hope this helps other knifemakers
to hot blue their blades.
First Safety when bluing
Bluing is dangerous because it is very caustic and should be done outside or in a well ventilated
place when possible. Also Glove, and Eye protection are a must. This stuff will give you a
chemical burn if it is wet and contacts you skin (You don’t want it in you eyes). Also as we all
know open flames are dangerous, you don’t want to burn you shop down. Again just take you
time and be very careful.
What equipment you need to get your bluing setup (Picture is below)
1. Turkey Cooker (Pan) From Walmart $10.00– It is very important that your container that you
blue items in cannot be stainless steel. It has to either be made of mild steel or coated with
a ceramic coating. The turkey cooker from walmart has a coating on it that protects the bluing
from getting contaminated.
2. Propane burner $0 to $30.00- I used a used burner for deep frying turkeys. You can
probably pick on of these up free, or at little cost. It has to be adjustable and put out enough
flame to get the Bluing salts to 300 degrees F.
3.Thermometer – $5.00 I picked mine up at walmart again. I have two different types, just to
make sure my temp is constant in the bluing. Thermometer should read up to at least 400
degrees F.
4.Propane tank $30-$ 45 – 30lb tank for a grill will work just fine and last quite a long time.
5.1 Plastic buckets $1 each– From walmart
6.Plastic Cup – to dip blades in to oil them.
*Supplies are around $75 if you buy everything new, but if you look around most stuff
can be had for free. So All you would need to buy would be the bluing salts and oil.
Supplies Needed
1. 25 # Box of Black Magic salts $45.00 – Available from Jantz supply. If you don’t buy the Salts
from Jantz, the salts you do buy need to be low temperature. Meaning that they blue in the 275-
300 degree range. Other salts blue in the 600 degree range, which will destroy you temper on you
blades. All of these directions are based on the salts from Jantz, but other salts will be similar.
2. Water displacing oil – I used gun oil for the longest time. You can buy a gallon of Magic coat
water displacing oil from jantz supply for around $20.00.
3. Dawn dishwashing liquid
4. 2 Gallons of distilled water
5. Stirrer - Something used to stir the bluing ( I use an old blade that I messed up)
Getting Everything Setup for Bluing)
1.Mixing the Bluing with Water -My directions say to mix 6-7lbs of bluing to 1 gallon of distilled
water. What is good, is if you get the turkey cooker from Walmart (Pictured) it holds one gallon of
water perfect, and is not too full. So add you water, don’t worry one gallon will do just fine for
knives. Then add 6-7lbs of bluing salts. Now if you don’t have a scale. A 20oz plastic disposable
cup from Walmart is just about 1lb. So now you can get a fairly close measurement. Be sure to
wear safety glasses when mixing the bluing to the water as it will bubble and sometimes shoot in
the air somewhat.
2. You need to fill the plastic bucket with cold water.
3. Fill the Cup with water displacing oil. (Or you can use the spray type gun oil)
*Now everything is setup for bluing your blades.
Blade Prep
1.When you are ready to blue your blades make sure they are already etched with your
logo/Name.
2. Now clean any dirt/oil off of them. Some places sell expensive degreaser, I just use dawn
and warm water. I usually wash them twice to make sure all the dirt and oil is off of them.
3.Tie some wire to each blade (Tang End). This will be used to lower/Remove from the bluing
salts.
Your blades are now prepped, now its time to blue them.
Actual Bluing
1. Slowly bring you Bluing salts up to temperature. Stir every few minutes. They should start
to boil around 275-285 degrees. Now if they boil before that temperature say around 250 degrees
you need to add more salts (Just try a little at a time). If you get to almost 300 degrees and it is not
at a rolling boil you need to add more water. Just be very careful.
*YOU DO NO WANT YOU SALTS ABOVE 300 DEGREES AS THIS WILL BURN THEM AND YOU
RESULTS WILL BE BAD!!
2. Once the Bluing comes up to temperature, it will be at a rolling boil. Just be careful not to
let it over boil and come out of the container. (I did this on my first bluing attempt) If it starts to look
like its going boil over just turn down the flame a little. Now is the Time to Add your blades
3. Your blades can stay boiling in the salts between 15-30 minutes depending on how
dark you want them to come out. You can pull one out every few minutes and check the color.
(Also different steels take bluing different -1095 very dark, O-1 is a little lighter. Just an
observation)
4. Now that you have the blades the color you want
take them out and dip each on in the cold water. Wear gloves and wash the blade in the plain
water with an old rag. Warning – If you don’t wear gloves and you have a cut the bluing will get in
the cut and burn it a lot worse than alcohol.
5.Once they are cleaned of the excess bluing residue. Dip them in the oil.
6. You’re done !!
Notes :
*Bluing can be used over and over again. You just either have to add a little bit of bluing salts
each time, or add water. Depending on when it boils.
*Also do not put anything copper in your salts – It will contaminate you salt bath and you will
have to start over.
1. 25 # Box of Black Magic salts $45.00 – Available from Jantz supply. If you don’t buy the Salts
from Jantz, the salts you do buy need to be low temperature. Meaning that they blue in the 275-
300 degree range. Other salts blue in the 600 degree range, which will destroy you temper on you
blades. All of these directions are based on the salts from Jantz, but other salts will be similar.
2. Water displacing oil – I used gun oil for the longest time. You can buy a gallon of Magic coat
water displacing oil from jantz supply for around $20.00.
3. Dawn dishwashing liquid
4. 2 Gallons of distilled water
5. Stirrer - Something used to stir the bluing ( I use an old blade that I messed up)
Getting Everything Setup for Bluing)
1.Mixing the Bluing with Water -My directions say to mix 6-7lbs of bluing to 1 gallon of distilled
water. What is good, is if you get the turkey cooker from Walmart (Pictured) it holds one gallon of
water perfect, and is not too full. So add you water, don’t worry one gallon will do just fine for
knives. Then add 6-7lbs of bluing salts. Now if you don’t have a scale. A 20oz plastic disposable
cup from Walmart is just about 1lb. So now you can get a fairly close measurement. Be sure to
wear safety glasses when mixing the bluing to the water as it will bubble and sometimes shoot in
the air somewhat.
2. You need to fill the plastic bucket with cold water.
3. Fill the Cup with water displacing oil. (Or you can use the spray type gun oil)
*Now everything is setup for bluing your blades.
Blade Prep
1.When you are ready to blue your blades make sure they are already etched with your
logo/Name.
2. Now clean any dirt/oil off of them. Some places sell expensive degreaser, I just use dawn
and warm water. I usually wash them twice to make sure all the dirt and oil is off of them.
3.Tie some wire to each blade (Tang End). This will be used to lower/Remove from the bluing
salts.
Your blades are now prepped, now its time to blue them.
Actual Bluing
1. Slowly bring you Bluing salts up to temperature. Stir every few minutes. They should start
to boil around 275-285 degrees. Now if they boil before that temperature say around 250 degrees
you need to add more salts (Just try a little at a time). If you get to almost 300 degrees and it is not
at a rolling boil you need to add more water. Just be very careful.
*YOU DO NO WANT YOU SALTS ABOVE 300 DEGREES AS THIS WILL BURN THEM AND YOU
RESULTS WILL BE BAD!!
2. Once the Bluing comes up to temperature, it will be at a rolling boil. Just be careful not to
let it over boil and come out of the container. (I did this on my first bluing attempt) If it starts to look
like its going boil over just turn down the flame a little. Now is the Time to Add your blades
3. Your blades can stay boiling in the salts between 15-30 minutes depending on how
dark you want them to come out. You can pull one out every few minutes and check the color.
(Also different steels take bluing different -1095 very dark, O-1 is a little lighter. Just an
observation)
4. Now that you have the blades the color you want
take them out and dip each on in the cold water. Wear gloves and wash the blade in the plain
water with an old rag. Warning – If you don’t wear gloves and you have a cut the bluing will get in
the cut and burn it a lot worse than alcohol.
5.Once they are cleaned of the excess bluing residue. Dip them in the oil.
6. You’re done !!
Notes :
*Bluing can be used over and over again. You just either have to add a little bit of bluing salts
each time, or add water. Depending on when it boils.
*Also do not put anything copper in your salts – It will contaminate you salt bath and you will
have to start over.
Bluing salts that I've used several times and therometer.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Magic coat and Plastic cold bucket