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Gun Bluing / Cold bluing
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I am looking for the steps to blue a gun without heating it. If there isn't one, then I want to try a store-bought method. Any information anyone has would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Chris Duffy- Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Canada
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Chris, Cold bluing is fairly easy. The most important item is clean metal. The metal must be free of all oil, etc. Even a fingerprint will leave enough oil to prevent good bluing. The surface of the metal must be polished before bluing the way you want it to be when finished. Bluing only colors what is there. There are many cold blue solutions available. Just follow the directions with the product. Cold blue does not hold up like a good hot blue job, but can come out nice. Good luck. Ed Kay- St. Louis, Missouri |
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Hi,
I have blued several guns the cold way. I used G96 [linked by editor to product info at Amazon] gun blue. The trick is to completely remove all the old bluing then highly polish, removing any pitting with a file then polish with 180 grit paper wet sand after till you get a mirror finish.
Then insert a wooden dowel into barrel to use as a handle so you do not have to touch the metal. Clean and degrease with rubbing alcohol or any commercial degreaser. Once degreased it is important that you do not touch the metal with bare hands.
Apply the G96 with cotton balls or sterile pads . It should turn a sort of green colour when dry insure you have an even coat, and when satisfied you do, wash the gun in hot water hot enough that it dries upon removal from water lightly polish with the finest steel wool [linked by editor to product info at Rockler] then give it a good rubdown with an oilcloth (Barricade wipes [linked by editor to product info at Amazon]) you will be pleased with results.
Final note if you are not happy with the evenness of the blue apply more G96 before washing.
Hope this helps,
Shane Cluett- Neepawa, Manitoba, Canada
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For a given steel I may have to experiment to find what cold blue process works best if at all. The products I have been using are: 1)
Oxpho-Blue
2)
Dicropan 3) G96 [linked by editor to product info at Amazon] [solid] cold blue 4) Simple Green [linked by editor to product info at Amazon] [liquid] degreaser 5) Scotch Brite abrasive plastic scrub pads [green] 6) Motor oil [liquid] |
Typically I will:
1) Degrease and then not touch with hands.
2) Rub on Dicropan for a dark but not durable blue
3) Degrease
4) Rub on Dicropan
5) Degrease
6) Put round objects in lathe, spin, and apply Oxpho blue with Scotch Brite while pressing hard enough to apply but not hard enough to remove too much.
7) Degrease
8) Put round objects in lathe, spin, and apply Oxpho blue with Scotch Brite while pressing hard enough to apply but not hard enough to remove too much.
9) Lightly coat with motor oil over the Oxpho blue.
10) Let stand over night to get darker.
11) Wipe off oil
The idea is that the Dicropan get into the micro grooves of the steel and rubbed off the micro ridges. The more durable but less dark Oxpho is then applied to the micro ridges.
The Dicropan or Oxpho Blue or G96 may not work on some steels, so trying different things in different orders is then best.
Clark Magnuson- Mercer Island, Washington
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I would like to know if there is anything you can put on a gun receiver to bring back the case coloring or to put new on at home. I would like to do this myself even though there are people out there that do this for others
Virgil Hudsonhobbyist - Racine, West Virginia
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What is your opinion about butch's gun bluing and mother's? Will this aquire the same smooth quality finish as the heated methods? David.
David Rickardbeginner - Washington
Cold bluing is no match for hot bluing, David: please see our FAQ on Black Oxide and Cold Blackening for an introduction to that.
Based on letter 34769, we do not think there is such a product as Mother's Bun Bluing.
We avoid comparing one brand to another on this no-registration-required site because the anonymity of the internet tempts product shills to post with fictitious names, posing as completely satisfied customers :-)
Good luck.
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 Ted Mooney, P.E. finishing.com Brick, New Jersey |
July 4, 2010
Is there a difference in cold bluings as far as active chemicals. Which different ones
might give a deeper blue like a colt python blue or which one might give a blacker look?
what is the constant of the different bluing solutions.
do it yourselfer and gun enthusiast - Amarillo, Texas, USA
July 7, 2010
Hi, Chris. I think the principal ingredient in all of the cold blues is probably selenium. I think you will discover that the polish of the parts has more effect on the perceived color than which brand you use. Very highly polished metal may look quite blue while matte metal will look quite black.
Regards,
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 Ted Mooney, P.E. finishing.com Brick, New Jersey |