Vans instant gun blue?

[nhetzer]

Thanks all for your input. I agree with some and disagree with others. I have decided that I do like this product but it has its place. I'm not a gun dealer and don't indulge in the practice of deceiving people when I do sell one of my firearms so I'm not concerned about what applications I will use this product for. When I started this thread I knew absolutely nothing about cold blue because I have never used it. As for the claims of "pulling the old blue out of the metal" I was simply paraphrasing the claims of someone I know who bought it and the explanation he gave me. I wasn't there for the sales pitch he got so I don't know if it was explained to him that way or if he just made his own assumptions. Either way, no matter. I decided to come here and find out the skinny. Thanks again all.

[Johnny Peppers]

You are absolutely correct that everyone can do what they want to their own guns, and that is the way it should be. I believe the warnings were issued for those that don't have the knowledge of the product that you do, and could possibly end up with results that did not meet their expectations.

[mrclark]

the only cold blue that actually can be used to refinish/restore a gun is oxpho blue. I use it all the time in cases where there is excess welding like a torch cut gun kit. if you want to be a purist go ahead but you gun will look like crap if you park a gun that has welds. no matter what you do even if the welds are not visible to the eye they will be after parking.

I use oxpho blue and it works great. I just restored a bren for someone with it.

I find it even gives the colour of park a bit, its not your average cold blue.

some before and afters











A BAR I did with it





and a very rough Inglis HP, before and afters, notice the serial number in the white now













so depending on your situation, I wouldnt say bluing a gun allways depreciates the value, it has its values and depends why and how you use it as well as the brand you use.

hope this helps

[Chuckindenver]

most cold blues on the market are a copper based product.
if you ever want to have refinished correctly...avoid using cold blues, they are ok for small touch up on a gun your going to sell,
i learned a hard lesson on a cold blue finish rifle, even after chem stripping after 10 mins in my blue tank it destroyed 60.00 worth of blue salts, and a days work...
never again, unless they want to pay extra money to change my tank...copper sulfate doesnt mix well with sodium hydroxide...

[Johnny Peppers]

There use to be a '62 Chevy around town finished with blue metallic Krylon. Looked pretty good as the overspray of the metallic gave it an iridescent color depending on how the light hit it.