Refinishing Damascus barrels

[GcG166]

i have an old double barrel with Damascus barrels. the condition isn't good, i just got it for something to fool with as a little project to see what i could do with it since it was cheap. wondering about getting a better finish on the barrels and seems like rust bluing is the best/only option. i could not find any rust bluing solution in Canada but see some people make a homemade solution. has anyone done this? looking for a fairly in expensive way to so something with it that will show the pattern if possible. if theres a solution i can make myself with fairly common items that would be great.

also would the birchwood casey "super blue" be an option? i haven't seen anything about people using it on Damascus. is there a reason for this?

again this is no valuable antique and does not need to be perfect just something to play with

 

[trevj]

Some folks have reported pretty good rust bluing results using Birchwood Casey Plum Brown as the rusting agent.

There have been folks who built batches of the rust blue agent in Angiers book, or in (I think) Howe's books, but the chemicals are a pain to gather together and the recipe make a very large qty of the mixture. It shows for sale at the odd gun show.

 

[hunter5425]

There is a product called Radocy that is a form of rust bluing you might want to look into. ht tp://www.pjsproducts.com/radocy.htm

 

[Mauser98]

Laurel Mountain Forge Barrel Brown and Degreaser is a top notch rust bluing compound. It is available from Brownells and is the only rust bluing compound that they will ship to Canada via normal mail.

I’ve blued 6-7 long guns with it and results have all been very good as long as proper rust bluing techniques have been followed.

https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/metal-prep-coloring/blackening-browning/2-oz-laurel-mountain-brown-sku519100025-7780-19665.aspx

 

[mooncoon]

I have refinished several damascus barrels with variable results because no two barrels behave the same. The basic method I use is to draw file if necessary the barrels bright then sand with abrasive tape (roughly 140 grit) using lots of oil finishing with sanding the barrels longitudinally so that all of the "scratches" run lengthwise down the barrel. Crosswise scratches stand out dramatically. Wipe down with solvent then degrease with lye and start rusting. Every 12 hours or so I run hot water (140F ) over the barrels and card with 4 - O steel wool wet. Very important that the steel wool is wet or you will card off all of the finish. Then 20 minutes covered with wet ferric chloride followed by hot water and more carding then repeat for another couple of days. In terms of what is available to you, try rusting with one of the commercial rust blueing solutions. Ferric chloride should be available somewhere, to you, as I think it is used in etching printed circuit boards and in etching modern made damascus knives. You might also dry just using a ferric chloride solution and carding every1/2 hour or so. If the pattern is a tight figure 8 sort of pattern, after the first rusting you should probably dilute your rusting solution from then on because otherwise the barrels will rust completely and you cannot see the pattern

To repeat, all barrels rust differently; on some it is hard to see the pattern and on others the pattern just jumps out at you