French Grey finish ?

[Rob M.]

I'm still new to these cold browning solutions , ive used Birchwood Casey for every build but these last two BUT ....with B.W.C. a French grey is easy to achieve as what ever you hot brown with that solution the next day its grey ....then you keep adding more solution and heat to go to brown stage so ....my question ..... Can French Grey finish be achieved with Mountain Laurel or .....he// , what's that other one called ? Can't remember right now ... Homer Dangler ! ......Well , I can't use heat for B.W.C. because I have non removable inlet metal parts in the stock otherwise I'd just use B.W.Casey again ....but not possible with this build . I think a French Grey look would look really good .... Any who ....thanks for any input

 

[TDM]

I get a good grey finish with several water diluted applications of Jax black with scothbrite drawbacks.

 

[WALT53]

I'm still new to these cold browning solutions , ive used Birchwood Casey for every build but these last two BUT ....with B.W.C. a French grey is easy to achieve as what ever you hot brown with that solution the next day its grey ....then you keep adding more solution and heat to go to brown stage so ....my question ..... Can French Grey finish be achieved with Mountain Laurel or .....he// , what's that other one called ? Can't remember right now ... Homer Dangler ! ......Well , I can't use heat for B.W.C. because I have non removable inlet metal parts in the stock otherwise I'd just use B.W.Casey again ....but not possible with this build . I think a French Grey look would look really good .... Any who ....thanks for any input

Phosphoric acid I’m told works .

 

[SDSmlf]

I get a good grey finish with several water diluted applications of Jax black with scothbrite drawbacks.

I found Jax Black easy to apply, but it’s durability seems on par with cold bluing, which is typical just a top coating.

 

[jdw276]

Vinegar, mustard will do it. I added BWC to my mix and it created a blueish tint as well. Old school traditional method!

 

[Brokennock]

I'm not a builder, so can only speak from novice experience with one barrel and knife blades. Vinegar darkened blades seem to hold up well. I tried to get a nice grey on a barrel left inches white, couldn't get it to darken enough. Resorted to cold blue rubbed back,,, it just doesn't hold up well, it wears through very easily. Are the non-removable parts you speak of going to be handled a lot?

 

[X62503]

Vinegar, mustard will do it. I added BWC to my mix and it created a blueish tint as well. Old school traditional method!

Please tell me what BWC is. Thank you!

 

[pacanis]

BirchWood Casey is my guess.

I use Oxpho Blue and it does wear quickly. Easy to touch up though.
I have since put a foam bumper where I rest the gun against my shooting bench when I load. That's how easy it wears.

 

[Rob M.]

I'm not a builder, so can only speak from novice experience with one barrel and knife blades. Vinegar darkened blades seem to hold up well. I tried to get a nice grey on a barrel left inches white, couldn't get it to darken enough. Resorted to cold blue rubbed back,,, it just doesn't hold up well, it wears through very easily. Are the non-removable parts you speak of going to be handled a lot?

The thumb plate will be rubbed a bunch

 

[Rob M.]

Please tell me what BWC is. Thank you!

Birchwood Casey .....hot browning solution . I ve used it exclusively for decades ....just started messin with the cold browning solutions

 

[PathfinderNC]

I used Cold Browning and rubbed it back. Gives nice accenting around the sights and adds a bit of aged texture.

 

[64Springer]

^^^That always makes for a nice finish.^^^

Good, honest, mildly neglected wear.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

I used Cold Browning and rubbed it back. Gives nice accenting around the sights and adds a bit of aged texture.

@PathfinderNC - What cold browning solution is that?

 

[PathfinderNC]

@PathfinderNC - What cold browning solution is that?

It’s the Dixie Gun Works Cold Browning solution. I can get a photo of it later when I’m in the shop.

 

[Rob M.]

I used Cold Browning and rubbed it back. Gives nice accenting around the sights and adds a bit of aged texture.

Very nice !!!

 

[S.Kenton]

I’ve used BWC cold blue and rubbed it back with steel wool. It comes out a nice grey ( ish)

 

[BadDaditood]

I spent an entire day with pure phosphoric acid and didn’t like the look.
Next day I rubbed it back, used a cold blue (phosphoric and selenic acids), couple coats rubbed back and viola’, looked good in an hour.
It’s not real durable but maybe nature will catch up with it.

 

[IanH]

I've done two with Oxpho Blue paste rubbed back and it's holding up reasonably well but is getting shinier in the areas of frequent handling. Easy to touch up. I use a heat gun to get the metal hot so it takes better and leave it full-blue below the stock line because I find it really slows down rust formation on otherwise "white" barrels compared to waxing them or rubbing them down with RIG. Just blue and oil really well before installing the barrel.

 

[Zutt-man]

I get a good grey finish with several water diluted applications of Jax black with scothbrite drawbacks.

I did the same. This was not my best effort with the lock as it turned out blotchy imo, but the barrel was spot on for the look I wanted. Unfortunately, I didn’t grasp the best pictures if the barrel. You can see a few glimpses of the barrel in these photos which are consistent in real life.

 

[kyron4]

Naval jelly works well .