The reason why blued guns rust is that something was allowed to attack the surface blueing and get through it to new steel or the blueing job wasnt deep enough to complete passivate the surface from red rust. If there is any finish left on the metal, it will interfere with the bluing pr COPYRIGHT 2021, THETRUTHABOUTGUNS.COM. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Just take them from the comments he posts. Dont. At the end of this heating process the crucible is removed from the oven and positioned over a bath of water with air forced through a perforated coil in the bottom of the bath. So you said the polishing is key for the coloring process. You can improve your results by doing two things: 1. Turn the heat on and give a good regular stirring until it gets very hot and starts to steam. Heat the Steel. The differing rate of cooling for each area produced a different color creating that rainbow effect. The parts must be observed constantly for colour change. Im asking because theres a guy on YouTube recommending Brown Express first, then several layers of Blue over that. Wait for a day to let the bluing properly cure before you do anything else to it. I dont have that much blueing to do in my shop, so I dont use hot salts. Bluing involves an electrochemical conversion coating resulting from an oxidizing chemical reaction with iron on the surface selectively forming magnetite (Fe3O4), the black oxide of iron. Bluing also helps to maintain the metal finish by resisting superficial scratching, and also helps to reduce glare to the eyes of the shooter when looking down the barrel of the gun. Did you make this project? After the Civil War they switched to another process. (Its Crystalline Potassium Nitrate 100%) $6.18 3 years ago Large scale industrial hot bluing is often performed using a bluing furnace. Its the corrosive gift that just keeps on giving. Dont just leave them on a surface that could corrode or burn), get a new patch into the hemostats, soak, wring out, and keep going. 3. Now you can start.Apply heat to your object and heat up gently and equally. As I'm bluing round pieces I slowly and evenly rotate the piece over What did you use for polishing your pieces and Im guessing you polished then added the chemicals after?Thanks, Joe, Question Any more advice is welcome SteelJunkee Joined May 6, 2018 Messages 891 Participated in the Explore Science Contest. So, you start with a clean gun, in the white, you play a propane torch over the gun to get it to the point where the blueing solution just will readily steam, but barely sizzle, and then you brush on the blueing compound. occasionally I'll buff it afterwards. I wore latex gloves, as Brownells recommended, but used a pot holder to handle the hot barrel, and that may have been the source. The colours range through straw, gold, brown, purple, blue, teal, then black. I wish this article had come out sooner, since I did not know that 0000 steel wool may have oil in it. Repeat 3 times. Besides those, you must also have water displacing oil and cleaning solution (Dicro-Clean 909). If the sights need to be stripped & blued, follow the same procedure, but dont polish on them. I used Express Blue #1 on lots of guns, where I want something less labor intensive than slow rust blueing (which I wont describe here): most steel wool isnt oil-free. The reason I ask is that when you heat steel that is in the white to 600F, you get a brilliant blue all on its own. $3.59. The cross section and size of parts affect the outcome of the finish and time it takes to achieve. A non-linear resistance property of the blued steel of razor blades, foreshadowing the same property later discovered in semiconductor diode junctions, along with the ready availability of blued steel razor blades, led to the use of razor blades as a detector in crystal set AM radios that were built by servicemen (as foxhole radios) or by prisoners of war during World War II.[8]. Share it with us! The head is fixtured and and an arm holding the valve seat moves the the proper location. Blue or Black rust is complete passivation of the steel surface Fe3O4.
You can use a heat gun, a blow dryer, or a torch for this. 1. You will need:-2x containers (one of them preferably being metal for the oil)-oil -unleaded petrol/Acetone/Terpentine/Rubbing alcohol or any goo It greatly helped me to learn how to blue a gun perfectly at home. I have also had good results with 5w/30 motor oil, I've also used two-stroke oil with good results. The parts are then oiled and allowed to stand overnight. Probably the main one is the content of so-called "carbon, "I was looking at making a set of plate armor and I wanted to see how to harden the breastplate. Degrease and heat the items to be blued in a steel pan to about 700F. I heat treated a piece of carbon steel to make it less likely to wear (using its edge as a cutting surface in a wood turning application). Oil-free steel wool is also sold by woodworking shops. I have always wondered about storage in gun soft cases or the foamed Hard cases, and humid or dry, heat and cold. He has more than three years of experience writing for and working with wikiHow. Salts. "I have very limited knowledge as to how metal can be manipulated for different applications. Its a good process for processing lots of guns, but I simply cannot recommend it for people who just want to do a gun here or a gun there.. Then you have to heat the metal. I don't understand why you are submerging it in oil? -something to hold your object with i.e. This is how Colt made their rifles and pistols prior to Civil War you can read all about the process. The steel is also used for producing great police flashlights with awesome durability. Heat the gun parts. Its a good process, but it isnt a 1:1 replacement for blueing. Hes claiming that method is more durable than Blue alone. gas coverage is another big one. Your 700F temp is too high, IMO. Theres nothing wrong with your method, but is is very hazardous, especially to people who have never done anything like it before. The difference is immersion in boiling water for bluing. Heating will make the metal better in absorbing the bluing liquid. It cannot rust any further. They should start gassing up approximately 2 to 3 minutes after exposure. That surface rust on the barrel could be polished off easily.
Bluing Stainless Steel: What You Can and Cant Do - Forging World Use a coffee can or similarly shaped container as your quenching chamber. It is generally employed on smaller parts such as pins, screws, sights, etc. Approved. Enjoy! While I am certain that I could do it myself, you already have all the bits and parts and stuff so it is worth my dollars to buy a gunsmiths time to have this done for me. (And taking, out of *your* hide). Excellent info. DG should receive a stipend for his valuable contributions to TTAG. Mark the sharpened edge with a crayon. for 6-8 hours. This is a great source that you can learn lots of information from and I'll advise it to to a handfuls of others. I am using bronze, is it for a polish? Question It's easy to get it too hot, too quickly - especially with an O/A or oxy-propane torch. 5 years ago, I found that heating will turn steel silver ~> gold ~> violet ~> blue. Your container should be relatively larger than your object. The only way to do that is to heat it until the metal de-magnetises, quench it again, and then temper to the desired hardness. Fume bluing is another process similar to rust bluing. Alternatively, You could store them in a hard case (like a pelican with a purge) and throw some desiccant packs in there as well. just fyi, the old school method of case hardening steel is to get the piece so hot that a magnet will no longet stick to it and quickly quench it in used motor oil. Below is a link to a video I found on YouTube that shows the process. If you have a wood or phenolic handle, use a propane torch to heat the blade only for about two minutes. I can then get the temp to be 600F spot-on in a lead melting pot. Mess. Add in the 250F+ temperatures of the salts when they hit your skin, and youre both burned thermally and chemically in seconds. Bluing, being a chemical conversion coating, is not as robust against wear and corrosion resistance as plated coatings, and is typically no thicker than 2.5 micrometres (0.0001 inches). You can not do this method with Aluminium because it won't reach the temperatures required for bluing, it will just melt. }. [ Modern home hobbyist versions of this process typically use a hydrogen peroxide and salt solution, sometimes with vinegar, for the rusting step to avoid the need for more dangerous acids.[7]. I use a pickling paste. ", the wrong quality steel.
Blue Knowledge is the power and fear is the opposite of power it cripples the mind and the body and almost always guarantee's a poor decision will be made. I tried heating the barrel in sections (as Brownells says is ok) but did not get a very good result, being unable to get a uniform heat in any =thing approaching more than a few inches at a time. It repeats the process adn by the time the head moves on to the next station all the parts are seated presumably for the life of the head. In place of using a hot bath (although at a lower temperature) chemically induced method, it is possible through controlling the temperature to heat steel precisely such as to cause the formation of black oxide selectively over the red oxide. Think big scars. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Get it Feb 25 - 27. The ideal setup is a pair of long sleeve gloves along with splash goggles and a face mask. Just let any residual matter evaporate/dry. Larger flames produce less heat while smaller flames produce a higher heat. You are a fantastic resource for all of us here. I handed a buddy my wallet and cell phone, and stepped under the safety shower and got wet. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Bluing is also used in seasoning cast-iron cookware, to render it relatively rust-proof and non-stick. Hot blueing salts attack soft solders on guns, so it isnt to be done on old shotguns and some older rifles. We strongly advise that you only push through with this process if you are absolutely confident that you are able to perform the necessary precautions. Soft, low-carbon steel was used, but strong materials were needed for the receivers of firearms. I dont use hot salt blueing because much of my work is on older double guns, which have ribs that are soft-soldered into place. 35% Potassium nitrate (aka saltpeter), http://castboolits.gunloads.com/archive/index.php/t-36054.html. Before operating your torch, read all instructions so you know how to handle it safely. WebStep 1: Preparing Your Materials You will need: -2x containers (one of them preferably being metal for the oil) -oil -unleaded petrol/Acetone/Terpentine/Rubbing alcohol or any good http://www.lowes.com/pd_188198-316-HG-66420_0__?productId=4764059 The mixed fumes of the acids produce a uniform rust on the surface of the parts (inside and out) in about 12 hours. To remove them, you put the action/barrel into a sturdy vise (padded with soft jaws) and you use a piece of brass rod to drift the sights out. Alternatively, you can press the pad of steel wool between your hands over the container of acetone, and then put it on some paper towels to dry. An iron wire, stainless dipper, and part basket are required to handle the guns components and adjust the bluing solution as well. Spilling salts at this temperature will instantly result in fire, because the KNO3 is a powerful oxidizer all on its own, and the added thermal energy will light anything on fire all alone. Thanks for the lesson, DG. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. "sameAs": "author": "Christopher Graham", OK, Buffing wheels, which Im making their own break-out response from the blueing salt issue: Buffing wheels are useful things in a gun shop. For more information on using a blowtorch and protecting the steel, scroll down! Wait for 10 15 minutes and then take out the components. On another thread, we can go into nitre blueing, which is basically heating pins/screws/bits/bobs to 600F in a molten salt bath. Heres instructions from Mark Lee Supplies on using their Express Blue #1. I can see my wife walking in and shaking her headabout as vigorously as when I asked if I could use the dishwasher to clean some tools. The hotter the steel, the further the oxygen can diffuse through the oxide coating, so the coating builds thicker before it protects the steel from further oxidation. 500F-600F is often all that is needed and the parts can be done over and over again you just have to clean between each attempt. Rust bluing is also used on shotgun barrels that are soldered to the rib between the barrels, as hot bluing solutions melt the solder during the bluing process. Wipe them down with WD-40 on a regular basis. You have a degreased gun, and now you need to get the metal hot enough that the reaction will oxidize the steel as much as possible. Ive dealt with strong acids and strong bases in lab work, and I fear the strong bases more. Once you get the colour you want, go outside to your oil container and fully quench your object into the oil! The blue appearance of the oxide film is also used as an indication of temperature when tempering carbon steel after hardening, indicating a state of temper suitable for springs. Then, you can put the components back into the bluing tank and increase the temperature until you see the blued steel. "dateModified": "2022-03-27", This finish allows them to be stored in high-moisture conditions, like sports bags, without rusting. Drift the sights back in from the right side of the barrel. And thats about everything you need to know about stainless steel bluing. You risk a big fire that is self sustaining by the reaction itself. Posted December 21, 2009. You might be able to start at 320 grit. When youre using hot blueing salts, youd better be on top of your game, or you can seriously injure yourself. it takes a long time to heat up a long (ie barreled action length) tank that is, oh, three barrels wide. Gas burners can usually do the job for this. Isn't the point of the acetone to degrease, why would i grease? *700F is very close to the heat treatment temperature of some steels.
Best Gun Bluing How to Harden Steel: 10 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow Always back your paper when youre polishing over edges and up against features. Most cold blueing agents contain some selenium dioxide in them to enable to them to react at room temps. All About Bluing Steel Stainless Steel Necessary Gears and Tools Procedure Step 1: Ready the bluing tank Step 2: Process the components of the gun Step 3: Suspend Various processes are used for the oxidizing process. Bluing is a process usually used by gun owners and firearms manufacturers to improve the aesthetic value of their weapons. 3D Printed Futuristic Space Age Wall Clock. This is all from memory so I might have left some stuff out. Just dont do it. It is not nice stuff. Its for mild steel, which must be greased, oiled or otherwise coated with something to stop it from rusting almost immediately. Then remove it from the degreaser, don't be tempted to wipe it off with anything.