Looking for a smith that does cold rust blue/or competent individual in my area

[sigarms226]

I've got a a Winchester Model 12 from the 30's that I've slowly been making beautiful again. The gun has no sentimental value to me. I picked it up for cents on the dollar from a local shop cause nobody wanted it. The take down was out of whack this I fix tight now. The stocks were very weathered so I stripped them and given them a BLO finished over the last few months. Old but plate was split and cracked. I replaced that with a period rubber Winchester branded pad. I completely stripped the thing and replaced a very worn extractor. It is starting to be something.

Now its time for the metal to receive some love. While I can and do appreciate honest wear on a tool like this(character), I'd like to give it a fresh lease on life as it were.

I'd like to have some beautiful deep slow rust blue done to it. Only problem is I'm not sure who does it. Most shops around me still offer blue services but they range from hot blue or just the wipe on blue from Birchwood Casey.

Is this something I could potentially do myself? or at least one of these form? Is hot bluing just as good as cold rust bluing?

Or any different ideas are appreciated. If it helps I live east of Saskatoon about an hour and a half.

 

[hunter5425]

I haven't tried this but these guys sell a simple rust blue product you might want to look at ht tp://www.pjsproducts.com/radocy.htm

 

[dilly]

Slow rust bluing is NOT cold bluing FYI. I slow rust blued a nickel steel 16ga model 12 myself and it turned out really nice. As a DIY, you need a long tank that you can reliably boil distilled water in. You need the acid to start the rusting process and it helps to have a chamber that is damp inside to promote the rusting stage, but I have heard some hang the parts in a shower stall.

It’s not really that difficult. You need to follow the instructions to a T and be very disciplined regarding oil removal and handling. The instructions cover it off. It’s a rewarding DIY project and I recommend it. Having done one (including all the parts and bits) I wouldn’t do one for another person for less than $500.

 

[sean69]

I'd like to have some beautiful deep slow rust blue done to it. Only problem is I'm not sure who does it. Most shops around me still offer blue services but they range from hot blue or just the wipe on blue from Birchwood Casey.

Is this something I could potentially do myself? or at least one of these form? Is hot bluing just as good as cold rust bluing?

Or any different ideas are appreciated. If it helps I live east of Saskatoon about an hour and a half.

All the different bluing methods will give you a different finish based on the metal being treated, the method used and the composition of the chemicals in the solutions used.

Hot Bluing - hot tanks of caustic salts, lots of ventilation and protective gear needed. Not something you want to try at home for a one-off project. and not something I know a whole lot about.

Cold Bluing/Browning - A wipe on / wipe off / neutralize solution, i.e. Birchwood Casey's ... I've never found one I liked.

Express Bluing/Browning - this is PJs solution, you can do it in about 3 - 6 hours depending on how many turns are needed. You boil your parts, apply the solution, wait a few minutes for it to bite, boil again, card then repeat as necessary. This is technically a rusting process. I have used PJs on several muzzle loader barrels. It's quite nice.

Slow Rust Bluing/Browning - Same idea as Express except you are not boiling the parts between turns You are leaving them in a sweat box/cabinet (and yes, a damp basement shower stall will work) for 24 or more hours between turns. then neutralizing with hot water & reapplying until you hit the desired colour. This can take a couple weeks or more - highly dependent on the relative humidity.

I would recommend PJs if you were to go about it yourself. It's forgiving and probably the least amount of setup (you need a boiling tank - I made mine from storm gutters/eaves trough on a camp stove.)

 

[marshall]

I have never had much liking for Birchwood Casey, touching up screws or the like.
I was In C.T. last year and found a little bottle of Outers gun blue, now that stuff is great , I just have used it on small bits.
I have a bottle of Rust Bluing I have had for years Classic American Rust Bluing Solution , By the Pilkington Gun Co., Planed to do a Ballard with it , till some one bought it .
Hot blue , I think you can find some one in your area, my mind went blank?