Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Best Way to Blacken Steerer Tube

Just like the topic says what is the best way to blacken the steel steerer tube showing through the stem. Sharpie?

in before the fight

Just like the topic says what is the best way to blacken the steel steerer tube showing through the stem. Sharpie?

Sharpie will give off a purplish tint. Take it off and use some gloss black spray paint. Let it dry for about 2 days then re-install.

Just like the topic says what is the best way to blacken the steel steerer tube showing through the stem. Sharpie?

You need to re-evaluate your priorities.

cauterize

Ben's Cycle sells a special NJS stem-blackening agent for about $15 but the applicator kit is another $25, so it can get pretty expensive.

If you decide to go the home-made route, be sure to use the K-15 method rather than the K-11 method as there are less postules created this way.

As well, be sure to use all the proper protective gear but I am assuming you know this. There is a pretty extensive thread on the subject in the Mechanics sub-forum, search for that; it used to be a stickied thread here but the debate got rather heated over the merits of the NJS blackeners over the non-NJS stuff and there were quite a few bannings over it, if I recall correctly.

Anywho, good luck and take plenty of pics of the process, it has been ages since we had a good Blackening-Steer-Tube build thread.

Chef Paul Prudohmes Blackining magic

You need to re-evaluate your priorities.

Actually, this would bother me too. But look at my screen name. I'm obsessive-compulsive.

You need to re-evaluate your priorities.

LOL. I think you need to re-evaluate your priorities and quit jumping at every opportunity to ***** at someone.

prettyinpink is not very pretty on the inside.

listen, you will forget about it once you start riding. Save yourself the stress. I know where you're coming from when you want everything to look perfect, but it's really really petty, not important, and won't affect your bike for the better in any way. Just leave it and you'll soon forget about it in no time

wow.

prettyinpink is not very pretty on the inside.

We're all pink on the inside.

All of us are in the gutter but some of us are looking at the stars.

If you have a 1" steerer, you could get a new stem for a 1 1/8 steertube and then puchase one of these (but in black):
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=15092&item=50-1561&slitrk=search&slisearch=true

Or just get a full carbon fork which will be black the whole way through.

I don't think there is an elegant way of getting a steertube black short of anodizing it (if its aluminum).

http://www.winstanleysbmx.com/images/brand_thu_138.png

lols, rite?

buy a bottle of blueing solution from a local gun shop / hunting store.

I recommend black epoxy spray paint. I've used it to brink new life to cranks that have become scuffed. It sprays on easily to a nice gloss and is durable.

Thanks for the tips people. I just finished putting together my first non off the rack bike and am really enjoying it. Just trying to do some finishing touches. I spent so long picking all the parts and researching my build and I think it really paid off. I feel like there are few little things like changing the color of the steerer tube to really finish off the build. Now that all the functional build things have been worked out its time to have some fun and deal with the little detail stuff. I find enjoyment in the process of this kind of stuff and the little details I put into my bike make it all the more personal. It's fun.

What bike did you build?

And yeah, I know how much fun it can be, I was just messing around. I was riding home just now and a car pulled up alongside me and said "Great bike!" and gave me the thumbs up----made my day and it is even nicer because I built it up by myself too.

the friction between your stem and the steerer tube is all that's keeping your bars from cocking to the side and sending you flying into traffic (i've had it happen, it's scary as ****). do you really want to put paint (or anything else for that matter) in between there?

You're in Guelph, right?...
Talk to Hugh at True North...
I'm sure he can help you out...

i second the gun bluing stuff. spray paint puts a layer of paint on the steerer tube that will scrape off as soon as you put your stem on. the gun blue basically oxidizes the top layer of metal in a controlled way so it won't add any thickness. i use it to touch up parts of my rush hour where the paint has worn off. i got mine at my LGS (local gun shop), but you can probably get it at dick's or similar firearm-stocking sporting goods store.

Electrical tape.

am i missing something here or is the obvious answer, install black spacers?
WTF?

it sounds like his stem will expose some tube like how Thomson X2s are

it sounds like his stem will expose some tube like how Thomson X2s are

exactly

embrace the raw materiality of the bare metal..

Gun bluing will probably do it and be the least cheesy.

embrace the raw materiality of the bare metal..


Nicely done

exactly
Didn't do all your research...... Elite stems don't have the material removed at the clamp!

Didn't do all your research...... Elite stems don't have the material removed at the clamp!


No, you didn't do all YOUR research! You can see the steerer and the bars through the Elite X2.

http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/glorycycles_2012_40434254

No, you didn't do all YOUR research! You can see the steerer and the bars through the Elite X2.

http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/glorycycles_2012_40434254
If that was directed at me! Take a look at this stem and tell me if you can see steer tube through the clamp.
Elite Stem (http://www.lhthomson.com/elite_stems.htm)
I didn't say anything about X2 or X4 stems. If you check my sig. I have an X2 for my risers and stock track drops.......
I also use an Elite with a 26.0 clamp for my Nitto 21's.

it sounds like his stem will expose some tube like how Thomson X2s are


exactly

He wrote X2.

He wrote X2.
I wasn't quoting him. I said if you researched each part carefully. It wasn't careful enough cause you skipped the plain Elite series which doesn't have exposed material at the steer tube. Which would've made your problem a non issue to begin with. That's what I'm saying.

Oh ok. I choose the x2 knowing it showed the tube if that helps. I thought it was the better functional choice.

By any chance NEWSNEAKERHEAD, are your stems still in their original boxes and labelled with post-its?

Edit: so jhaber, are you going to go with the gun bluing or what?

All of us are in the gutter but some of us are looking at the stars.


Well I'll keep looking straight ahead so i can jump out of the way and let you get hit by the bus.

I wasn't quoting him. I said if you researched each part carefully. It wasn't careful enough cause you skipped the plain Elite series which doesn't have exposed material at the steer tube. Which would've made your problem a non issue to begin with. That's what I'm saying.

what a ******.

why are you arguing about a stem he's obviously not riding? everyone else in the thread was capable of putting 1 and 1 together, yet you start discussing and linking to stems that aren't being discussed (and were never even mentioned)...

while we're at it, guys, this stem doesn't show the tube either:

http://www.bikesomewhere.com/images/small/85E61607-F1F0-408F-17A10E6D7B779316.jpg

Edit: so jhaber, are you going to go with the gun bluing or what?

Gonna give it a go I think. I am doing a bike mechanic course this weekend at Winterborne (a custom frame maker in my town) and gonna see if they have a solution on site first. Otherwise I am gonna track down a local gun shop and see if they have any bluing solution.

If that was directed at me! Take a look at this stem and tell me if you can see steer tube through the clamp.
Elite Stem (http://www.lhthomson.com/elite_stems.htm)
I didn't say anything about X2 or X4 stems. If you check my sig. I have an X2 for my risers and stock track drops.......
I also use an Elite with a 26.0 clamp for my Nitto 21's.

I use the Elite as well.

Spooki- He is talking about an Elite X2 which I why I brought up the Elite. Thanks for your .02 though. He had said he spent sooo much time researching the parts. Well apparently not enough time was spent on the stem.

Mander- And yes their bags are labeled..........By the manufacturer, cause they are labeled in a way everyone can understand.
-clever again!

Please keep the bickering to a minimum. Everyone feels justified in their opinion and that is OK, I can respect and understand that.

It's just a bike stem and it's not a big deal in the grand scheme of things :)

Spooki- He is talking about an Elite X2 which I why I brought up the Elite. Thanks for your .02 though. He had said he spent sooo much time researching the parts. Well apparently not enough time was spent on the stem.

Mander- And yes their bags are labeled..........By the manufacturer, cause they are labeled in a way everyone can understand.
-clever again!

go take your meds plz