Rust Bluing Problem

[Jim Tarleton]

I am rust bluing an 03 barrel, and for some reason, the blue is brownish in color. I have boiled the barrel for 30 minutes at a time trying to get the oxyhydroxide to convert, to no avail. I am using Brownell's Classic instead of my usual Pilkington's. Any suggestions?

I have never had this problem before.

Jim

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[Chuckindenver]

stop rust bluing, and start hot tank blue????lol..

[Jim Tarleton]

Chuck,

Now you know I have to use the original finish methods and techniques. I can't hot tank an early 03 barrel. Even Mickey Mouse could spot that.

I have had excellent luck with rust bluing. I do it in my kitchen while I watch TV. It is cheap, anyone can do it, and it is a finish that Popeye can't remove. No power tools or tanks required. If properly done, you can stick it up against a grinder wire brush wheel and it won't remove the finish unless you just hold it there.

I like rust blue finishes anyway. I started doing my sporters in rust blue, and did the last one with a Zischang blue (irridescent blue). I bleached the American walnut stock (El Cheapo from American) and it brought out the grain so well, I decided not to logwood it. It is a beautiful rifle, and very accurate to boot (25-06).

After I posted last night, I tried an old trick I discovered by accident. I added iso-propynol to the mix, and it turns the metal a darker color quickly. I will let you know tonight if it worked. I recovered the mercury from a bunch of old mercury switches so I can make more authenticate browning batches.

Jim

[John Coleman]

Lots of info here.


http://www.akfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31594

[Jim Tarleton]

Thanks, John. Interesting dialogue, and I recommend it for anyone who wants to rust blue anything. No new news to me though. I have been rust bluing guns for nigh on to forty years, and I seem to have come across a recalcitrant 03 barrel, or my solution has been exposed to sunlight too long, which is what I suspect the true problem to be. They do not sell the stuff in brown bottles for no reason.

By the way, that poster can no more buy nitric acid at a hardware store than I can fly the Space Shuttle. I think he meant muratic acid, which is a 28% solution of hydrochloric acid, which I doubt seriously will do the job. Never put concentrated nitric acid on your gun (or your house or garage if you value your metal properties). Try it and you will see why.

Thanks, John.

Jim