Charcoal gray Barrel/metal finish reference

[ADK Ephraim]

Anyone with a good reference or suggestions for achieving a charcoal or gray finish on a barrel/ other metal surfaces? I'm about to finish up a Tennessee rifle, but am not sure I want to go with the bare metal finish.

 

[mloader40]

Gunsmithing Simplified No.3 Metal Treatment by
Kit Ravenshear. This pamphlet can be ordered through Dixie Gun Works or the Journal of Historical Armsmaking Technology Volume V from the N.M.L.R.A. both have references to charcoal bluing and other bluing methods.
Good Luck and send pictures when you are finished with the rifle.
BPWRL

 

[grey8833]

MJWayne:

Try Birchwood Casey Brass Black on steel. Finish and degrease the metal, apply brass black, wait 60 seconds, scrub off with water and 0000 steel wool. Leaves a nice dark gray finish. Top with corrosionX and away you go. Try it on some scrap steel to see what kind of finish you want. I bead blasted the part then applied the finish. Any machine shop will bead blast (glass beads) your parts for a nominal fee. Took me a total fo 15 min for a 1/2 dozen parts (tool room has a blast cabinet - supervisor let me use it for free).

Mike

 

[mbw907]

That is a trick that I have not heard of yet. Thanks for the tip. I'll have to buy some brass black and try that.

 

[ADK Ephraim]

Thanks! I'll put it on order. Kit's other pamphlets hold great suggestions, I've found.

 

[ADK Ephraim]

Sounds like something to test out. When you wash the black, should you use warm or hot water? Thanks for the suggestions!!

 

[grey8833]

MJWayne:

I used cold water and 0000 steel wool. Keep the metal wet with the Brass Black for at least 60 seconds, turns dead black. A rub with lots of cold water gives you a dark grey. My cast butt plate came out darker than I liked so I did the wash with soft scrub (the one with bleach in it). Do that quick, I tried the same trick on my nose cap,let it sit too long (the bleach) and it pitted the surface, had to re-polish (not a big deal). As I said, get some bar stock from the H/W store and practice first - although a re-polish is not all that hard. Also, try the bead blast finish, that came from the book TOTW recommended. Gives a nice finish for either browning or gray.

Mike