My 2nd Krag

[browningautorifle]

unless my cheap hot plate will boil a couple inches of water vigorously enough

I used mine to melt lead in a cast iron pot...it should do the job.

[ssgross]

2 iterations on my receiver tonight fully rusted in 20 minutes in the "sweat pot". The third didn't rust at all after 2 hours, and is boiling now so I think I'm done.
The outer surfaces of the receiver aren't as dark as the side plate and loading gate turned out. Maybe it will get closer after the oil soak.

I did some more reading whilst waiting...that picture I posted from Turnbull restorations earlier ...he is clearly applying mark lee's express blue no. 1, exactly according to the instructions.

[browningautorifle]

Don't know if I'll be able to manage this, it sounds like witchcraft. I might have to send my Marlin off to have it blued after hand polish.

[ssgross]

I might have to send my Marlin off to have it blued after hand polish.

Jim, don't let my learning curve dissuade you. It's not too bad. It's both a science and an art just like marksmanship...at least that's why I like these kind of things. I emailed Turnbull for a quote for this very thing...send them my parts already prepped. They go back to me with a price that was astonishingly high.

The inside of receiver turned out perfect. Bad news the outside lightened considerably after the last boil and card , and I'm not happy with it. Good news is I know why. The finer the final iterations, the darker the color comes out...
https://markleesupplies.com/instructions...scroll down to the "slow" formula and the instructions are identical to all the others, only more detailed in explaining "why" things turn out the way they do.

My last coat, I switched from a wrung out cotton ball to a wrung out square cotton cleaning patch, hoping to get that perfect, light and smooth final coat with no overlap or streaks, but it put it on a bit heavier than the cotton ball (not noticeable when wiping it on, but easily seen after 15 minutes in the sweat pot). I should have known, the extra material of the ball soaks up any excess that doesn't immediately evaporate as you wipe it on. Larger rust particles yield a lighter finish.

I might switch to the Lee Express No. 1 for the barrel, since it takes less boiling. I can boil 20 gallons in my bit brewpot, then pump it into a pvc tube with the barrel. Hell if I'm real clever, I can put a hose fitting at the bottom and top of the tube and circulate boiling water.

[ssgross]

lots of good info here...
https://www.forgottenweapons.com/wp-...g%20manual.pdf
...like the correct height to file down my front sight blade for use with my m1901 sight.

[browningautorifle]

I have a copy of that very book here, had it for years.