Slow Rust Bluing

MauserMike

MauserMike

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Anybody here ever try their hand at slow rust bluing?

Does anybody have some recipes they can share for the bluing solution? Or at the very least, a Canadian supplier that can sell it for a reasonable amount?

Thx!
 
speerchucker30x378 said:
Brownells sells the chemicals but good luck getting it into Canada ;o)
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Exactly.

Searching the threads, I don't exactly see an answer to my question. A recipe would be perfect since I have training in chemistry and have the facilities to handle just about anything at work. I could probably mix up enough for 50 people in no time.
 
I use phillips gun blue, I get it sent from the UK described as face cream. It' comes in little touch up pots but a pot is enough for a complete rifle, you don't need a lot. I noticed today that Wholesale sports has quite a selection, so getting it in Canada should not be a problem. Go for the cream rather than the fluid, it's easier to apply.

BTW it need not be slow rust bluing, I built a tube which has enough room for a camping stove and a pot of water for humidity. I just dangle the parts from the top. Full rust is achieved in 20 mins. A rifle can be completely done in a single day if I work fast.

Here is a pic of my latest effort...


Jan24187.jpg



Here is a pic of my latest effort
 
Nice. I think I'll try starting with a bolt or something like that and see how it goes. Then I'll need to start thinking about how to scrounge up something that can be my hot water tank for a barreled receiver.
 
Brownells will ship this product to Canada.

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=7780&title=BARREL+BROWN+%26+DEGREASER

I've only done one rifle with it and I'm very impressed. The rust is super-fine grained and the final finish is black with a bluish tinge. I achieved complete coverage after only 3 applications but did a total of 6. It is quite possibe to do 3 applications per day with only 2-4 hours of rusting time per application in a damp box at 80% RH at about 100 degrees F.
 
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Mike, you don't need a tank. I do the rusting in the basement and nip upstairs with the barreled action when it is ready for the boiling water. I boil distilled water on the stove in a big pan and holding the action by a piece of wire pour boiling water over the action and down the barrel while the muzzle is in a bucket in the bath, it works as great. I know many people say the parts should be boiled for five minutes but that's BS. The parts that I have boiled for five minutes are no better than the action and barrel. As soon as boiling water comes into contact with the parts the solution is deactivated. As for the other bits I just put them in the pot that I use for creating the humidity in the plywood tube.

I know the above may seem rough and ready, but it works perfectly, and if you put the work in during the preperation you will have a finish second to none.
 
Blue can not be removed without removing metal. It will come away when you refinish the gun, there is no need to remove it first.
 
MauserMike said:
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=22820&title=CLASSIC+RUST+BLUE

Seems this will ship.

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/st...5&title=PILKINGTON+CLASSIC+AMERICAN+RUST+BLUE

This will not.

For removing the old blue, people in the archives are talking about hydrochloric acid, which can corrode steel if you are not careful. Has anyone considered phosphoric acid? I believe that is in many rust removers including CLR.
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They won't ship the Classic Rust Blue to destinations outside the US and there it's surface only. Click the icon under 'More info'.

There are any number of ways to remove old bluing. For small parts I use diluted HCl. A quick in and out and the bluing is gone. I've also used Naval Jelly(phosporic acid) which also works well. For barreled actions I use elbow grease liberally applied during the polishing:) .
 
build a box, polish the steel to what ever polish suits your fancy
get a piece of glass about 2"X4" put the piece in the box
Get yourself some concentrated sulfuric acid and some nitric acid
put a couple of drops of the nitric acid on one side of the plate and a couple of drops on the other side (not together) then put it aside for about 6-8 hours it will have a nice even rust on it by then.
take the piece and boil it for about an hour then card the black goop off of it with a piece of #00 steel wool then proceed to do it again

Practice on a piece of scrap steel first

This comes from the 1st Machinist bedside reader by Guy Lautard

good luck and be careful
 
MauserMike said:
Anybody here ever try their hand at slow rust bluing?

Does anybody have some recipes they can share for the bluing solution? Or at the very least, a Canadian supplier that can sell it for a reasonable amount?

Thx!
Click to expand...

Something I forgot to mention in my earlier post is this book. It is loaded with recipes and good information

http://www.amazon.ca/Firearm-Blueing-Browning-R-H-Angier/dp/0811706109/sr=1-1/qid=1171042224/ref=sr_1_1/702-7841951-3592021?ie=UTF8&s=books
 
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