How to rust blue, for those that want to know

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Pinecone

Blackhawk
Joined
Jan 29, 2007
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970
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Maine
D A, Very,very nice job! This work is a labor of love. I love it when grandpa and grandson are involved. Nothing like that first time the boy sets his eyes on it. Again, congrats on a well done job!.................Dick :wink:
 

I_Like_Pie

Blackhawk
Joined
Aug 24, 2006
Messages
659
Location
Chattanooga, TN
That Favorite looks awesome!

I am doing the same right now with two old Winchester model 69s.
It is a good thing that time isn't money (despite the saying).
 

awp101

Single-Sixer
Joined
Jul 25, 2011
Messages
290
Location
TX, home of DeeDee Snavely's Used Guns and Weapons
Very nice write up, thanks!

Two questions:

Can bronze wool be used instead of steel wool? I've always read steel wool can leave bits behind that may rust later. Might be an old wives tale, but I figured it's worth asking. :mrgreen:

You mentioned over polishing can make the process harder, or at least it takes longer. What about fine grit sandblasting? I have a Martini Cadet that was covered in surface rust that I blasted in the cabinet at work and we use a fine grit. Should I still polish with 220g, etc before the rust bluing process? My gut says yes unless it's a step that won't improve the finish or actually lengthens the process.
 

Pinecone

Blackhawk
Joined
Jan 29, 2007
Messages
970
Location
Maine
Bronze Wool is too course. You need to stick with 0000 Steel Wool. Rubbing down after the steel wool with oil and a smooth rag will negate any problems with the steel wool. I have been doing this for over four decades without problems. Sandblasting with fine sand by itself, actually leaves a nice blued/phosphate (frosted) type finish which I find extremely durable in the field................Dick
 
Joined
Nov 30, 2004
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3,208
Location
Alabama, in the bend of the Tennessee River
My one and only experience with bluing anything was on a muzzleloader (T/C Hawken) that I put together from a kit well over 30 years ago. I used the Birchwood Casey "Plum Brown" stuff where you heat the barrel or part to be blued/browned, apply the solution, steel wool off the resulting rust, and repeat until the desired finish is obtained. I heated my barrel by laying it on top of the wood stove with a roaring fire in it until the barrel would sizzle a drop of water, the applied the solution. I don't recall how many times I repeated the process; about 4 or 5 as best I recall. The result was a very deep, dark finish, more blue/black than brown, that has proven to be very durable over the years. I have hunted with that old rifle extensively and other than being a little shiny around the muzzle - mostly from the loading process, I'd guess - it looks as good as ever. If I had a "beater" non-collectible gun of any kind that I wanted to improve the looks of just for my own use, I would not hesitate to use the Plum Brown process again.
 

mikewriter

Blackhawk
Joined
Oct 29, 2014
Messages
808
Location
Texas Coast
Just about finished a rust brown "job" on the cylinder frame of my old Herter's .44 mag, just to see what it would look like. Used the Laurel Mountain Forge solution, and it was pretty darn easy. I just taped off what I didn't want to "brown" with blue painter's tape. This afternoon I decided it was "dark" enough and neutralized the solution on the gun, then heated it (with a hair dryer) and coated it with motor oil, as per the instructions on the website. After it has sat for 24 hours, I intended to polish the whole gun, Pretty pleased with the way it turned out, especially for a first try.

I have removed blueing with oven cleaner and a Scotch Brite pad before, but Laurel Mountain suggested I use Naval Jelly, and it worked MUCH better!

Mike


 

snakeeyes4445

Single-Sixer
Joined
Mar 2, 2004
Messages
110
Location
Dubuque IA USA
I just finished my second and third shotguns done by rust bluing. My first was a single barrel junker which rusted nicely with LMF, and I scratched it between six or seven passes. I was not then equiped with boiling pans and tried to steam it to convert in a vertical PCV pipe. Water droplets condensed and ran down the barrel producing an array of psychedlic striped colors. Too much steam I guess, but the finish I got was deep and lustrous.
Two very pitted guns were next attempted...a Dynamite Nobel 16 pump apparently made with a lower alloy steel than the Browning Citori which was its bath tub mate.

I used Plinkingtons Classic Rust Blue from Brownell which is a match to their own by the same name I am told. I draw filed and finished to about 320 and next time will try 220 as the result was just right for the Citori but a little too bright for the cheaper gun. The lower alloy 16 ga. frame and barrel behaved much more like the instruction said they would....very good result.
The Plinkingtons was easy to apply with a two inch make up pad wrung out well. A quarter reaspoon in a clean small gass vessel reduces contamination. One pad would absorb all of the agent, and I just turned it as I went. Two hours later a second coat was applied. One hour later i boiled in a stainless tank.
The first boiling produced fine black soot on each gun but the Citori showed a circular pattern from the gas flame port of the burner. I then switched to scalding with boiling distilled water which worked fine for the low alloy pump gun.
The Citori began to show a coppery sheen by the eighth pass and the rust scratched off was not converted. Two more and it was worse. One more pass and I then boiled it for a half hour which gave a good full depth conversion to black.
Ten minutes in scalding water was not enough, and I would recommend longer than ten minutes and boiling if you can. A sheet metal shop can build your tanks....4 or 5 inches wide is enough and takes less distilled water.
I liked not having to heat the barrels. I degreased by overnight in premium gas and boiling in Dawn dish water. rinsed with hot soft tap water. Next time I'll try Simple Green cause the gasoline in that quantity is hard to safely burn. The only oil problem that I had was I forgot to degrease the wire that I suspended the barrels in. One spot only, but still visible after ten passes.
The plugs were holding me back, but were easy enough to make with a one inch belt sander. I used soft dowels and they came in handy to use as handles. Neither the agent or the boiling water caused any trouble with the bores or internal parts. They cleaned up easily.
I am going to look into some sort of tube burner or a double boiler to heat the water a little faster.
I only waited twelve hours after the final treatment, pand used Outers gun oil applied twice and rubbed in the next morning with paper shop towel, followed by wax. Next time I will use boiled linseed oil before the gun oil just to see any difference, and give more time to age the finish beforehand.

Fun projects but had thirty hours of attention on those two badly rusted guns. The Citori owner was happy enough to hand me all of the cash in his wallet.....450, which covered my expenses nicely. Keep an eye on everything....use a lot of nitril gloves and don't get in a hurry....you'll be fine.
 

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