"Belgian Blue" - Anyone have experience with this stuff?

[Crazy Chaingun]

Hello all,

I got gifted some DIY blueing equipment from an older gentleman. He and his buddy used to restore guns, but gave up the hobby a while back.

The blueing chemicals they used are apparently not available here anymore, but they used to get it from Brownells. It's called "Belgian Blue", and apparently is applied by suspending gun parts in a tank of boiling water, then pulling them out, wiping the "Blue" on, and then putting them back in the water. This would be repeated several times.

Apparently this stuff wasn't quite proper "Hot Blueing", but was better than regular cold blue, and less caustic.

Anyone have experience with this stuff? Curious if anyone has tips or tricks for using it. I've got an old Cooey Model 75 that I've buffed down to bare metal that might make a good trial piece.

Thanks,
C.C.

 

[Twan]

You can also read up on Rust bluing, similar process - wipe the bluing compound on, remove after x time, card the rust off and repeat until desired finish is achieved... that is an oversimplification, but it sounds as though reading up on Rust Bluing might provide you with enough additional information.

https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-...y-bluing-chemicals/belgian-blue-prod7604.aspx

watch this video here for a great visual explanation as well - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuP4m6L95K4

 

[oldstarfire]

I have used it quite a bit, it is a faster version of a rust blue. Very happy with the results.
Some care and proper prep are required. Clean with acetone or lacquer thinner to get ALL grease/oil off.
Handle parts with rubber gloves, I prep with 400 grit paper shortly before bluing.
I card the rust off with degreased fine steel wool (rinse in Lacq thinner).
6 to 10 applications is usual.

 

[rwnblack]

I’ve used Belgium blue on several guns and it is great. I degrease, boil, apply blue, boil, card with super fine oil free steel wool from Lee Valley, apply blue boil repeat. I do this until I have a nice blue then oil and use. Brownells still sells it and I have about enough for another 4 barrels then it will be time to order some more.

 

[philhut]

I have rebuked several rifles and a shotgun with butch and Casey's using the cold blue rust technique.
I used mineral spirits to strip all of the oil off.
Then bit by bit I applied the blue to 1 or 2 parts at a time
Dipped in tepid hot water after letting it rust up about 5-10 mind
Buffed btw with fine steel wool
Results were very very good

Took about 6 to 10 treatments per metal piece to get results I liked.

Be careful don't do too many parts at once it will get ahead of you.... if your patient the results are great.
I have only done this on older quality guns with good metal. The Norincos might not hold up to this treatment but I haven't tried. Just going by the results I've had degreasing Norincos too aggressively