Blackened Steel sounds like one of the easiest finishes to achieve in decorative metals, yet this is the most widely misunderstood and complex of metal finishes.
Ignoring for a moment that there are many different types of steel used for decorative purposes and even more ways to mechanically alter the steel for visual effect; Steel is "blackened" using a wide variety of paints and powder coatings, chemical conversion coatings (which are often referred to as patinas, gun bluing or black oxide finishes), as well as waxes. Often, there will be a combination of two or more of these processes used to reach the desired finish. And, two finishers can arrive at the same place using two totally different methods! Therefore "blackened steel" as a finish specification is as clear as texting a salesman in a large clothing store for "blue jeans" or ordering "white wine" in a well stocked wine shop and expecting they will deliver EXACTLY what you have in mind. Even showing a clerk a picture of a glass of white wine barely narrows the search. Because of the wide variety of processes and materials, this creates opportunity for conflict with other trades for the architect, designer and owner. The potential for miscommunication limits the fabricator/finisher's ability to properly price the work resulting in apples to oranges bidding. So, in an effort to prevent some of this, here is an overview of the fundamentals behind blackened steel finishes.
Last Updated over 2 years
