hot bluing - to plug or not to plug?
- Thread starter SHPRAC
- Start date
gunrunner8
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Kamloops, B.C.
I don't do blueing b/c it's so inferior to parkerizing which I do. My park solution only hits 180deg F max and wooden plugs don't blow, ever.
Hot bluing isn't inferior to Parkerizing, they are two different finishes for different purposes.
Some finishes would harm the bore and accuracy. Hot bluing is not one of them. I would never bother with trying to successfully plug a bore when hot bluing. The temperatures can be as high as 300 degrees but usually not over 290.
Some finishes would harm the bore and accuracy. Hot bluing is not one of them. I would never bother with trying to successfully plug a bore when hot bluing. The temperatures can be as high as 300 degrees but usually not over 290.
Last edited:
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
No worries with unplugged hot bluing. With old time English rust bluing, plugging is a must.
No worries with unplugged hot bluing. With old time English rust bluing, plugging is a must.
There is no point in plugging the barrel when rust bluing.
Well, what i was reading people were saying, plug the barrel! the bluing process will damage the finish inside match grade barrels and ruin accuracy. They were using lye and ammonium nitrate with rubber plugs.
So, my question to the professionals, will hot bluing without plugs damage a barrel?
So, my question to the professionals, will hot bluing without plugs damage a barrel?
here is a quote from the other material im reading.
"Barrels MUST be plugged when doing metal bluing, blacking, browning, or phosphate/Parkerizing since the solutions are corrosive to the finely finished inner surface of barrels and all the other finely finished working surfaces like sears and other parts of trigger assemblies."
"Barrels MUST be plugged when doing metal bluing, blacking, browning, or phosphate/Parkerizing since the solutions are corrosive to the finely finished inner surface of barrels and all the other finely finished working surfaces like sears and other parts of trigger assemblies."
gunrunner8
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Kamloops, B.C.
I am quoting you b/c IMHO the temperature difference of 100deg F between hot blueing and parkerizing is unlikely the reason for well prepared wooden hardwood plug to blow.
From the instructions...
"3) DON’T PLUG THE BORES - Tests were run by the government
at the Rock Island Arsenal several years ago on a series of blued
bores to compare them to unblued bores. With this hot bluing solution
method of gun bluing, it was found that the blued bores gave longer
barrel life and better muzzle pressures - very slight, of course, but
it proves there is no need to plug the bores of barrels being blued to
protect them. Furthermore, modern caustic Bluing Solutions operate
at such super heated temperatures that they rapidly expand the
air trapped in the barrels causing the plugs to blow out with very
explosive results, splattering hot caustic Bluing Solution over you
and the shop. PLUGGING THE BORES IS VERY DANGEROUS.
DON’T DO IT!"
"3) DON’T PLUG THE BORES - Tests were run by the government
at the Rock Island Arsenal several years ago on a series of blued
bores to compare them to unblued bores. With this hot bluing solution
method of gun bluing, it was found that the blued bores gave longer
barrel life and better muzzle pressures - very slight, of course, but
it proves there is no need to plug the bores of barrels being blued to
protect them. Furthermore, modern caustic Bluing Solutions operate
at such super heated temperatures that they rapidly expand the
air trapped in the barrels causing the plugs to blow out with very
explosive results, splattering hot caustic Bluing Solution over you
and the shop. PLUGGING THE BORES IS VERY DANGEROUS.
DON’T DO IT!"
What instructions exactly?
Riflesmith
CGN Regular
- Location
- On The Line
Take it from me first hand DO NOT PLUG THE BARREL! It is very dangerous. When in school at the Colorado School of Trades I was unfortunate enough to be walking by the bluing tanks when another student did just that and when the plug let go I managed to get a hell of a good burn. Ruined a pair of leather shoes in the process. Not a good idea. I was lucky it could have been worse.
gunrunner8
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Kamloops, B.C.
The reason is that rubber plug will blow but tappered wooden hardwood plug won't especialy when it expands due to moisture exposure.
