Bleach/Vinegar solution for metal finish

[splinter84]

Does anyone have a good step by step procedure for performing a french greying finish to the metal pieces of a muzzleloader using bleach or vinegar? I have found threads on here showing the final result and a brief description of the procedure, but I haven't found a good procedure that would tell me how to perform this successfully. I have also found different opinions on how long the solution stays in contact with the metal etc.

I would like to finish my kit with this type of solution, but do so without a lot of guess work or experimentation. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks guys.

 

[Little Wattsy]

I prefer apple cider vinegar. I also like a pattern.
Keep the barrel wet with vinegar for at least 4 hours. Can wrap it in a towel = pattern, wrap it in cotton rope = pattern or just poke it in a long piece of pipe and fill = no pattern.
Either way PLUG THE HOLES. Don't want vinegar IN the barrel.
Here is one wrapped in 1/4 cotton ropefor 4 hours:

 

[Jim Blair]

Like that. :thumbsup: Almost a faux damascus look to it.

 

How rust-proof is that finish? I just sand-blasted the hot-dipped bluing off my current project. I was planning on browning it tomorrow until I saw your picture.

 

[Little Wattsy]

How rust-proof is that finish? I just sand-blasted the hot-dipped bluing off my current project. I was planning on browning it tomorrow until I saw your picture.

Its still "bare steel" and will rust left to do so... However with a light coat of oil and the care shown a decent gun it will last forever-ish. I hunt in Oregon with 86.5 inches of rainfall a year and its ALWAYS snowing or raining during my ML hunt. Ive never had a rust issue but I wipe it down after every days hunt with alcohol and re-prep it for the next day with that light coat of oil...

 

Any idea what would happen if you did this finish then followed it with Belgian Blue?

 

[Little Wattsy]

Any idea what would happen if you did this finish then followed it with Belgian Blue?

My guess would be that it would be that the bluing would just cover it up and hide the pattern like you want... Working with browning would probably be more condusive to allow a pattern..???
HOWEVER.... You can use the vinegar trick and if you don't like it you can always prep the steel and blue it later...?

 

I learned that if you don't heat Belgian Blue fully you get a very cool bronze color that is rust resistant. You really have me thinking. I'm going to give it a shot and see what happens. Worst case is I sand blast it back off again.

I happen to have a 1/2 gallon of apple cider vinegar in my pantry...

 

[necchi]

Worst case is I sand blast it back off again.

Sand Blast it? whoa,, :shocked2:

 

Works real well. Gives a nice porous surface for re-finishing as well.

 

This is what I did today with the sandblaster.

 

[splinter84]

I dipped some smaller pieces tonight and they turned out pretty decent. I submerged them for 4 hours. I wrapped the trigger guard and butt plate with yarn to etch the metal some. It looks pretty cool. I will post some pics soon. I also covered all the pieces in rem oil. I figure if I don't like the treatment I can always brown the parts.

 

I'm going to brown over it today to see what happens.

 

[dbutch]

here's a comparison....

 

That's gorgeous!
My barrel is soaking as I type. I first randomly wrapped it in cotton string then wrapped it in 1/4" cotton rope. We'll see how it turns out!

 

[F.G. Ford]

Very nice job!
Fred

 

[splinter84]

here's a comparison....

That vinegar etching looks very nice. Could you explain some your process a bit?

 

[Jim Blair]

Curious,has anyone tried using a hard paste wax to preserve a finish like that?If so how well did it work/last in use?

 

Well, I tried it, my way... It subdued it more than I liked but in the sunshine it really pops.

 

[Little Wattsy]

Very nice!!! :hatsoff: