Where theworld gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989
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Old-tyme firearm "Rust Blueing" & Browning with Spirits of Nitre
Q. I found a Rust Blueing formula that needs Spirits of Nitre. Can somebody help me on this.
Thanks,
- Bochum, Germany
A. Spirit of Nitre is Nitric Acid, (HNO3).
Gordon Pawelchak- Coquitlam, BC, Canada
A. Thanks, Gordon, but I don't think so.
Those who are interested in spirits of nitre as an old time medicine will find letter 32413 "Need Sweet Spirits of Nitre" interesting.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
May 2013
A. I was researching nitre for a friend and found a reference at www.kramers.org/chemical.htm that lists it as nitre of potash. There are many more references in the search that I did, but I settled for that one.
Karen L. Burget Reed- Baltimore, Maryland
A. A book entitled Firearm Blueing and Browning [on eBay , Amazon, AbeBooks] by R. H. Angier, published by Stackpole Books, London, 1936, p.41 lists "spirit of nitre" as a dilute (1-5%) solution of ethyl nitrite in ethanol.
James Moore- Troy, New York
Q. Does anyone have any old rust blue formulas I am trying to find one that produces a nice even yellow coloured rust on gun barrels. I am trying to obtain a deep ebony black, some of Angier's are good but they have very little in the way of working instructions?
What can be used as a substitute for corrosive sublimate other than hydrochloric acid in a rusting formula. How can I make sweet spirit of nitre I believe it is ethyl nitrite and alcohol, is there a certain way to mix this?
rust blueing - Barnstaple, Devon, UK
2004
A. You can use 5% iron chloride solution! Instead water solution you can use pure alcohol! Good luck!
Goran Budija- Cerovski vrh Croatia
2004
2004
Q. I've come across a copy of Gun Digest 29th Anniversary 1975 Deluxe Edition [affil link on Amazon].
In chapter 38: Forgotten Firearm Formulae, there is a formula for blueing of firearm, it runs; The principle of 'browning' a firearm is simply the even rusting of a barrel with the use of certain chemicals. One of the best of these old time processes is to make a solution of three quarter ounce of spirits of nitrate; an equal amount of tincture of steel; one quarter ounce of black brimstone (crude sulfur), one half ounce of blue vitriol, one quarter ounce of nitric acid and a quarter ounce of corrosive sublime, one drachm of nitric acid and a quarter ounce of copperas. Mix these with a pint of distilled water in a glass bottle (keeping it away from your good tools) and it is then ready to use.
Plum Brown Barrel Finish
on
Amazon
(affil links)
The terminology used in this formula is old time and the chemicals required are having different current names. I shall be grateful for the current names for;
1. Spirits of nitre
2. Tincture of Steel
3. Blue Vitriol
4. Corrosive sublime.
If these above chemicals are mixture of some basic chemicals then how these can be prepared at home. Please help me in preparing the solution for blueing of firearms.
Thanks.
hobbyist - Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
A. Blue vitriol=copper sulphate, corrosive sublimate=mercuric chloride, spirits of nitre=ether, tincture of steel=iron chloride solution.
Good luck!
- Cerovski vrh Croatia
2004
Q. Sir,
I am really grateful for the answer to my question. Please tell me how I can prepare IRON CHLORIDE SOLUTION. I am a hobbyist and have an antique rusty air rifle, which I would like to restore. So I shall be thankful for the guidance regarding blueing of firearms. I can take care of the mechanical part of my air rifle.
Once again I thank you.
- Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
2004
A. Preparing iron chloride solution: dissolve 15 grams iron chloride in 1 liter water(or pure alcohol) Hot bluing process heat your object to 315 °C (preferably in kiln)
Chemical bluing
sodium thiosulphate [on
eBay or
Amazon]
.....125 gms
lead acetate..........45 gms
water..........1 lit
Hot immersion (82 °C, 5 min.)
You must lacquer or wax it!
Good luck!
- Cerovski vrh Croatia
A. Iron chloride is ferric chloride [on eBay or Amazon] got by dissolving cast iron chips in HCl.
Muralikrishnan- Kerala, India
2004
C13 browne of Swiss Federal armoury
"Firearm Blueing and Browning"
by Angier
on
AbeBooks
or
Amazon
(affil links)
Q. Does anyone know of working instructions for the formula in Angiers' Firearms Blueing and Browning.
page 85 c13 browne of swiss federal armoury. Any suggestions on a good mix as it suggested you can leave out sweet spirit of nitre?
hobbyist - Barnstaple, England
Can't find Spirits of Nitre
Q. I cannot seem to get spirit of nitre any more. Is there any chemical that can replace this in a rusting formula?
Paul Stevens- Devon, England
2006
"How They Did it in the 1870's"
on
AbeBooks
or
Amazon
(affil links)
"Grandad's Chemistry"
on
AbeBooks
or
Amazon
(affil links)
A. Spirit of nitre ether is an alcoholic solution of ethyl nitrate containing 3.5 to 4.5% ethyl nitrate.
According to The Merck Index
[affil link
on Amazon] 6th edition, it is pale yellow or faintly greenish yellow clear, mobile, volatile, flammable liquid. It has a pungent odor and burning taste. The ethyl nitrate decomposes on exposure to air and light.
I think it forms an acid as it decomposes.
To make it, take nitric acid and warm it with a water bath. A 2 to 3 foot long glass tube is run from the warm nitric acid to a water and alcohol solution. Surround the receiving vessel with ice water bath. Vent the receiving bath, through another vent tube reflux through a good refrigerator or cold bath. The heat of the water bath must be cautiously applied. The retort must be kept cool by a cold wet rag or paper towel. If the alcohol is heated it may catch fire so keep it cold. The process is very productive and yields pure hypo nitrous ether. (From Dick's Encyclopedia found in Granddads Wonderful book of Chemistry).
- Camp Verde, Arizona
2006
A. Sweet Spirits of Nitre was freely available as smelling salts until it was banned due to concern about takings it medically.
It is a fantastic additive to browning and bluing solutions for colouring steel. These solutions will work without it, but better with it. It can be made in cold weather using vodka, nitric or sulfuric acid and sodium Nitrite. These can be purchased in most places. It is a strong oxidiser and as far as I know it only lasts a few weeks in the solution before it breaks down.
I made it a few years ago and its tricky because it evaporates at about 10 °C. Ice is needed to keep it stable. Its a yellow liquid. Some people say that "sex poppers" Butyl Nitride^Nitrite will work, but I do not know. The boiling point is different.
- Dublin, Ireland, Europe
May 21, 2013
Browning an antique gun barrel
Q. I have tried different methods of browning a gun barrel with poor results. I need a method that does not require me heating the metal.
John BirthiselI am an FFL and like to do my own work - Denver, North Carolina, USA
December 1, 2014
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