Birchwood Casey Plum Brown

[Ontario Hawken]

I am finishing a 20 ga. smoothbore barrel as well as steel trigger guard and butt plate on a Poor Boy and was planning to finish it with Birchwood Casey Plum Brown. Using this requires that the steel be heated to 275 F to apply the finish.

I mentioned this to my brother who's a welder and he suggested that the barrel could warp if I heated it to this temperature.

Do you think barrel warp or weakening could be an issue? Has anyone used Birchwood Casey Plum Brown with success?, Scott

Thanks

 

[nebraska steve]

I used Birchwood Casey Plum Brown on a rifle I refinished. I used a propane torch and guessed at the temperature. I am sure some of the time the metal was to warm and at other times to cool. The first couple of coats/applications looked like cat vomit. By the third application the finish was coming together. After the fourth application I felt it looked really good.
I don't believe the application temperature is enough to warp the heavy barrel. I was concerned when browning the lock.
I would have used any other product if it had been available, because I felt Birchwood Casey was too common and inexpensive.

 

[doug smith]

I use a heat gun I bought from Harbor Freight. Don't know if I'm getting to 275 but I get a nice even brown, and don't worry about over heating small parts.

 

[Ontario Hawken]

My brother has a large flame torch that should be able to heat the barrel to consistent temp as well as a heat gun to determine the over all temperature, so it is possible.

As the smoothbore barrel is thinner that a rifled barrel I am worried about possible warping.

 

[doug smith]

I don't think I was clear enough on the heat gun I use. It is like an industrial hair drier. It will heat items up by heating coils in the muzzle end of the gun.

 

[EC121]

If you are worried about warping, leave it white or cold blue it and steel wool it back to a light gray/blue. Looks better than Plum Brown.

 

[Ontario Hawken]

Sorry, I misunderstood. I have seen heat guns used for stipping paint. This may allow for more control and certainly less fumes in heating the metal.

 

[matt denison]

275 degrees will not warp or hurt your barrel at all. Many many many barrels and small parts have been finished with Plum Brown with no problem.

 

[Ontario Hawken]

Thanks for your advice!

 

[mooman76]

I used a propane torch moving it over the barrel, not staying in one spot. It does the trick but take about five-ten minutes to get it up to temp so not hot enough to do any damage.

 

[don hepler]

Use Laurel Mountain Forge browning and degreaser, all in one, from Track of the Wolf and you won't have all these issues.

I just finished a gun with LMF, and turned out great.

 

[Vaino]

Ditto!....Fred

 

[Doug Lykins]

Agreed. LMF browning solution is the only thing I've tried to use, it works so well it hasn't occurred to me to try something else. :wink: