Browning in low-humidity environments.

[rickystl]

This Thread reminds me of a funny story. I have a full stock plains style rifle built as a finished gun by Roy Stroh from a TOTW kit. And of course, Roy did an outstanding job. The barrel, lock, and iron parts were all browned using the traditional rust method. The only strange happening was the 1" Green Mountain barrel. After 4-5 days the barrel was still rusting. So Roy shipped me the rifle and told me to just keep oiling it. So I would add oil before leaving to work in the morning, and wipe it off after returning home. And each day a little less rust would come off. But I kept this up for 7-8 days before it finally stopped rusting. So between Roy and myself it was near two weeks for that barrel to stop rusting. LOL Don't know why it took that long ? Maybe something to do with the carbon content of that barrel ? Roy said he had never seen one take that long. LOL Anyway, turned out a nice finish.

Rick

 

[stewart.leach]

I did a bit of remodeling on a Lyman GPR, including browning all the steel fittings. Used a long plastic storage box as a humidity chamber, the type used to store Christmas wrapping paper. Barrel fit in diagonally, resting lug at rear and wood plug at front on scrap wood. Placed several very damp rags in the box with barrel, snapped down the lid. Worked very well.