Bluing Salts

[deltaenterprizes]

I bought some lye, potassium nitrate and distilled water to make some bluing salts.
I have done it before but the last time the salts turned into a brick and I had to neutralize them and put them in the trash.
It was not a lot of money but I would like to have used them more than a few times!
I am using a stainless steel stock pot with a lid.
This time I am thinking about using a 50 cal ammo can because they have an air tight seal.
I also plan to add more water after each use.

Does anyone have any idea why the salts solidified?

[LAGS]

Humidity.
Did you try to break them up and use them ?

[Hossfly]

For what I read the water will hold a high percentage of the potassium nitrate while hot, when it cools the nitrate will precipitate out. That’s why it appears to turn solid. Heat it up and add more water and it should go back into solution.

[deltaenterprizes]

For what I read the water will hold a high percentage of the potassium nitrate while hot, when it cools the nitrate will precipitate out. That’s why it appears to turn solid. Heat it up and add more water and it should go back into solution.

I was moving and did not plan to use them in the near future so got rid it.

[Nobade]

Make sure to add water after the run to get the boiling point back down to 285F before you turn off the fire. That way it will work next time. You might also want to look into using sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite with the lye.

[Geezer in NH]

Or just contact Du-Lite and get some of the industry standard, it has long life and dependable results.

Way easier than making your own.

[Nobade]

Or just contact Du-Lite and get some of the industry standard, it has long life and dependable results.

Way easier than making your own.

Also costs way more and doesn't work as well.

[deltaenterprizes]

Or just contact Du-Lite and get some of the industry standard, it has long life and dependable results.

Way easier than making your own.

The hazmat fee alone is about what I paid for the chemicals!
I am doing a flat black finish on some Mauser bolts and do not need a large quanity of salts.
I have done this before and this will most probably be the last time.

[deltaenterprizes]

Humidity.
Did you try to break them up and use them ?

No that was 6 years ago and did not have a need for it anymore.
I am trying not to repeat the experience.