Touching up black aluminum

[Racer X]

Anyone found a felt tip pen that actually sticks to aluminum? I have some ugly scratches on a black Bogen tripod, and I know from experience a basic Sharpie will just rub off. Don't want to repaint the whole thing, and I don't expect perfection.

Might do low gloss spray paint in a cup, and dab on with a Q tip. Would rather use a "pen"

I do a lot of competitive pistol shooting, and the firearm related aluminum touch up solutions usually end up grey-black, not black. But they do cut down on the silver glint.

[Buzz]

No pen, back to Q-tip, but use gunmetal bluing/blacking... after bopping yourself upside your forehead.
==

[Onamuji]

There is an "industrial" Sharpie that is more permanent.

[Racer X]

Buzz wrote:
No pen, back to Q-tip, but use gunmetal bluing/blacking... after bopping yourself upside your forehead.
==

"Blueing" is a rusting process on steel which won't work on non-ferrous metals, and some stainless alloys. WAY ahead of you.

[Forrest]

Metal Marker

[Octave Doctor]

I've used car touchup paint on instruments, it seems to hold up pretty well. The little bottles with the brush in the lid.

[Buzz]

Racer X wrote:
[quote=Buzz]
No pen, back to Q-tip, but use gunmetal bluing/blacking... after bopping yourself upside your forehead.
==

"Blueing" is a rusting process on steel which won't work on non-ferrous metals, and some stainless alloys. WAY ahead of you.
I was thinking along these lines... not old school "blueing", though I guess I should have been more specific, my bad.

• Room temperature chemical
• Used by gunsmiths and industry to blacken aluminum parts
• Restores scratched & marred areas quickly
• Color will vary from deep gray to black depending on the alloy

[Uncle Wig]

miley_gun_sniper: Electrical tape.

[Racer X]

Buzz wrote:
[quote=Racer X]
[quote=Buzz]
No pen, back to Q-tip, but use gunmetal bluing/blacking... after bopping yourself upside your forehead.
==

"Blueing" is a rusting process on steel which won't work on non-ferrous metals, and some stainless alloys. WAY ahead of you.
I was thinking along these lines... not old school "blueing", though I guess I should have been more specific, my bad.

• Room temperature chemical
• Used by gunsmiths and industry to blacken aluminum parts
• Restores scratched & marred areas quickly
• Color will vary from deep gray to black depending on the alloy


last time I used that, I got medium gray after about 5 layers. Might try again, as this is a different alloy.

[Buzz]

There's also...
2K, Blacken-It, Deep Black MSC-0042, etc., or other oxidizing solutions. I think the degree of prep impacts the final color, and would guess that all the solutions are pretty darn similar.
==