Blueing or painting?

[maddmanz1]

I have worked a lot of tools I have collected to get a make and model name off the tool itself, So here is the question point blank! I see people spray paint a tool to make it look good and I thought the name brand is so faint on some tools painting it would fill in the name, Would using a gun metal blue preserve the name so it's stays legible? Is there other ways to keep it looking good and still be able to read the markings?

 

[rickhigginshtbr]

I've seen a lot of saw restorers using gun blue and was contemplating trying it myself

 

[Private Lugnutz]

To affect a black oxide like finish, I use Birchwood Casey PermaBlue, and have always had good results. The key is to make sure the tool is super clean and to apply it lightly in layers, with rinses in between, or it make get a lot darker than you want. It will only work on natural steel, obviously. It does like to get in the recesses of a stamping or a forging, so the markings will stand out more.

If the original finish of the tool (e.g., auto wrench, ball pein hammer head) calls for a black enamel or black japanned finish, there's not much you can do about a poor or worn brand stamping or forging.