Here is a thread for all you guys who have wanted to try rust bluing at home or have an older SxS with worn old barrels. I obtained some "classic rust blue" from Brownells and followed the instructions and here is my story.
I started with a gun that needed some TLC but was not too far gone. It is a 12ga Tobin Arms SxS made in Woodstock Ontario. I refinished the wood back in the winter and turned my attention to the barrels which had worn spots where surface rust must have attacked the bluing.
There were no pits but rather discolouration...
After removing all the bluing by sanding the barrels with 320 grit emery cloth, I degreased the bores and swabbed them liberally with polyurethane. Then I boiled the lot in water and TSP then in water again.
I was careful not to touch the barrels from this point on...I swabbed on the stuff from Brownells very carefully and conservatively then hung them in a "damp box" I borrowed from a gunsmith. Its a basic thing with some bulbs and a water tray and a door that seals tight.
After about 2 hours of rusting time, the barrels come out looking like this....to be honest, I was a little nervous when I saw this...
Back into the water for 30 mins on a slow boil and you can see the rust turn black before your eyes. When it comes out, it goes a velvety blue black colour.
This coating gets "carded" off by using superfine steel wool and the steel below is just a bit darker every time. I did a total of 6 passes and it took me a week but this is what resulted.
I found this project very rewarding and not that difficult to do. It sure made the old Tobin look good! Now...about those faded case colours.....
Here is a couple of the gun all back together.
I started with a gun that needed some TLC but was not too far gone. It is a 12ga Tobin Arms SxS made in Woodstock Ontario. I refinished the wood back in the winter and turned my attention to the barrels which had worn spots where surface rust must have attacked the bluing.
There were no pits but rather discolouration...
After removing all the bluing by sanding the barrels with 320 grit emery cloth, I degreased the bores and swabbed them liberally with polyurethane. Then I boiled the lot in water and TSP then in water again.
I was careful not to touch the barrels from this point on...I swabbed on the stuff from Brownells very carefully and conservatively then hung them in a "damp box" I borrowed from a gunsmith. Its a basic thing with some bulbs and a water tray and a door that seals tight.
After about 2 hours of rusting time, the barrels come out looking like this....to be honest, I was a little nervous when I saw this...
Back into the water for 30 mins on a slow boil and you can see the rust turn black before your eyes. When it comes out, it goes a velvety blue black colour.
This coating gets "carded" off by using superfine steel wool and the steel below is just a bit darker every time. I did a total of 6 passes and it took me a week but this is what resulted.
I found this project very rewarding and not that difficult to do. It sure made the old Tobin look good! Now...about those faded case colours.....
Here is a couple of the gun all back together.
Very nice to see some of the "old" techniques still being used and with very impressive results! A1
