Blueing a Cooey 840

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SkytopBrewster

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Recently re-blued a Cooey 840 for a buddy (hot caustic), had a hell of a time with the receiver, plum colour is the best I could do after 3 attempts. I tried putting in the bath at 190 and let boil up to 295, re-did and tried 300 (too hot), this was the best I could do boiling at 270 for 15 mins. It looks a lot better than before and he was very happy but I don't like getting my a** kicked by a piece of metal. I have heard of guys taking them all the way to 800 but that would ruin the temper no?

BEFORE

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AFTER

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How did you prepare the metal. Does the original color case hardened finish have anything to do with the way it accepts bluing?
 
The receiver was bead blasted and the barrel was polished to only 240 grit, aluminum was cerakoted. Didn't know they were originally color case hardened, the first picture was his attempt at cold blueing, looked like crap and he scrubbed some of the lettering out.
 
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I don't think they were color case hardened... In my experience bead blasting makes it hard to make the finished product look "blue"... I don't know if the surface is affected in some way... but if it is hard to blue to start with, bead blasting will make it harder to make it look blue.
 
"...don't think they were color case hardened..." Not when you intended selling 'em for $50. I wouldn't get worked up over a Cooey anything. Other than as a training/experience piece they're not worth doing anything to.
 
sunray said:
"...don't think they were color case hardened..." Not when you intended selling 'em for $50. I wouldn't get worked up over a Cooey anything. Other than as a training/experience piece they're not worth doing anything to.
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Yes but try telling that to a guy who got it from his grandfather as a 12th B-day gift. The gun is priceless to him.
 
My older 84 looks case hardened....maybe they changed that with the 840's?

From your pictures Brewster it looks like it turned out pretty good considering the prep work.
 
I ended up spending a lot more time & propane on it than I anticipated. The bead blast did seem to help it take the color more evenly. Like I said he was very happy with it, just looking for some advice for next time. The 300f turned it red and I had to re-blast it, not the first time I did that but I figured it was worth a try. I usually get very good results at 270, must be the altitude and maybe my old thermometer is out a few deg.
 
Could be a high nickel content in the frame's metal.

I find that a lot of the Win 94's frames come out the same way; almost looking like bronze.
 
SkytopBrewster said:
Yes but try telling that to a guy who got it from his grandfather as a 12th B-day gift. The gun is priceless to him.
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Exactly,it isn't always about the money.I have a few guns myself that wouldn't fetch sweet bugger all in a sale but are absolutely priceless to me because of our family provenance.I think your job looks just fine by the way.
 
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