I am planning to cold brown a swamped barrel and would like to know the easiest way to prep file the surface before brown solution is applied. Should a :huh:file be used at 90 degree angle to barrel or should file be used parallel to barrel? Any help with this preping process would be appreciated
Browning barrel
- Thread starter rfcbuf
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CrackStock
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I have never draw filed a swamped barrel, but figure that it is likely the same as any other except that you follow the swamped area without trying to reshape it.
Read up on the use of a mill file. This is an expensive file, but is the correct tool because it is wide, stable and has teeth which are well suited to giving a clean finish. Yes, other files can be made to work. Chalk is needed to keep the teeth of the file from clogging and a file card (sort of a wire brush with short wires) is needed for frequent cleaning so as not to scratch the work area with metal that does get caught in the teeth. The stroke is in only one direction and across the flat at a 90. The stroke is not hard, but not exactly gentle either. It is a learned feel.
Be careful to use an even and steady stroke so as not to round the edges.
Of course some use a piece of wood and sandpaper.
CS
Read up on the use of a mill file. This is an expensive file, but is the correct tool because it is wide, stable and has teeth which are well suited to giving a clean finish. Yes, other files can be made to work. Chalk is needed to keep the teeth of the file from clogging and a file card (sort of a wire brush with short wires) is needed for frequent cleaning so as not to scratch the work area with metal that does get caught in the teeth. The stroke is in only one direction and across the flat at a 90. The stroke is not hard, but not exactly gentle either. It is a learned feel.
Be careful to use an even and steady stroke so as not to round the edges.
Of course some use a piece of wood and sandpaper.
CS
Guest
I thought that someone did a long tutorial on the proper use of a file about a year back.
The "need" to draw file is based on the condition of the barrel as it is now. Drawfiling is a waste of time on most modern finishes. You can go straight to the abrasive paper on most commercial barrels, if you are into the mirror finish thing.
If you have no experience in this activity you are about to discover why the waiting period is so long, and the price so high, on an heirloom qualiy gun.
The "need" to draw file is based on the condition of the barrel as it is now. Drawfiling is a waste of time on most modern finishes. You can go straight to the abrasive paper on most commercial barrels, if you are into the mirror finish thing.
If you have no experience in this activity you are about to discover why the waiting period is so long, and the price so high, on an heirloom qualiy gun.
I don't know, Ghost. I've used Colerain and Ed Rayl's barrels, and both needed filing before anything else.
I hold the file at 90 degrees to the bore and using a push-pull action, get a pretty good finish with a mill file. A light pass with a smooth cut file has it ready for the charcoal blue.
I hold the file at 90 degrees to the bore and using a push-pull action, get a pretty good finish with a mill file. A light pass with a smooth cut file has it ready for the charcoal blue.
You might be interested in reading this posting I made about filing:
FILING 101
whether your barrel needs filing or sanding is of course up to you.
If it has the kind of finish you would expect from a grinder (very uniform and relativly smooth) it might not need anything.
If it has inevenly spaced lines like a mill cutter would leave, you might want to draw file the upper 5 flats.
OK, you can draw file all 8 of them, but unless your gun is a Half Stock, no one will know about the bottom 3 flats.
FILING 101
whether your barrel needs filing or sanding is of course up to you.
If it has the kind of finish you would expect from a grinder (very uniform and relativly smooth) it might not need anything.
If it has inevenly spaced lines like a mill cutter would leave, you might want to draw file the upper 5 flats.
OK, you can draw file all 8 of them, but unless your gun is a Half Stock, no one will know about the bottom 3 flats.
