Help, I'm browning!

[Gus Chiggins]

New update-- I wiped off the motor oil after about 30 hours. The oil that came off on my white rag was brown/rusty colored. It wasnt a lot by any means, and obviously motor oil isnt clear to begin with. Is this normal or should I clean it (Dawn) and baking soda it again?

Secondly, I have the lmf Permawax, and was wondering if that would be a good final finish for it. The can says it "cleans dirt and oil", so I'm guessing whatever oil I would have on there would come off. I dont have any oil other than the motor oil ,so I would have to go buy some if that's the preferred finish. I believe the instructions say oil or wax, just wanted first-hand experience . Thanks everyone!

 

[Zonie]

After you applied the motor oil, cleaning the surface with soap would just remove the oil you just applied. I can't see where that would get you anywhere so I would say, leave it alone if your happy with the color.

Permawax is just a wax and it will add some additional waterproofing if you use it. It might remove a little of the oil that's on the surface but the oil that has penetrated into the browning rust won't be bothered by it so go ahead and use it if you want to.

 

[Gus Chiggins]

After you applied the motor oil, cleaning the surface with soap would just remove the oil you just applied. I can't see where that would get you anywhere so I would say, leave it alone if your happy with the color.

Permawax is just a wax and it will add some additional waterproofing if you use it. It might remove a little of the oil that's on the surface but the oil that has penetrated into the browning rust won't be bothered by it so go ahead and use it if you want to.

Okay, thanks Zonie. The issue of not fully neutralizing the solution gets tossed around(not just here), so I was just making sure I wouldn't wake up tomorrow with ruined metal. I'll just keep an eye on it and as long as I see no difference in the finish by tomorrow I'll wax it.

 

[Zonie]

I've had several barrels that seemed to continue to rust for a few weeks after I applied the oil but eventually it tapered off until it totally stopped and the final finish was a nice, rich, brown that I like.
Some times we have to let things happen. Often, it can end up better than we planned.

 

[Eric Krewson]

I got real alarmed when my last barrel kept rusting after I heated and oiled it, my first stopped rusting the day I neutralized it. This wasn't big time rust but a rusty red on my denim everyday when I carded it, this went on for a month or so but caused no deeper rusting or pitting, just a great even brown finish. I was under the impression that this was abnormal but was assured by all the knowledgeable folk here that it was perfectly normal.

Weeks after I neutralized my barrel with ammonia and baking soda baths, at least 5 times, still rusting;

 

[Gus Chiggins]

Wow! Well, I think the key thing to remember (for me at least) is that this component of the process is like any other in that there are no definitive answers, or "end-all be-all's, just like there arent with finishing wood etc. Each piece of metal is different, each environment is different, each solution COULD be minutely different etc.. Its still an art to me, though there is much science involved, have to have the art side is as important.
I waxed my barrel and rib last night so I'll update if anything drastic happens(or doesn't).

 

[dragnetbill]

I'm betting that anyone who has raised kids, has a "vaporizer" somewhere in the house to combat sniffles and coughs. Their wife probably has it hidden in some secret place that only she knows about but it's there somewhere.

Filling one of these with water and leaving out the Vicks Vaporub, it will produce lots of steam without making your hot water heater work overtime and it will fill the bathroom with more than enough steam to work with the browning solution to brown a barrel. (Wipe out any old Vicks. The steam contaminated with the grease from this stuff will keep the barrel from rusting like it should.)

Now, the only trick is to find it. If you ask your wife she will probably say, "WHAT? YOU WANT WHAT? YOU ARE PROBABLY GOING TO FILL IT WITH ONE OF YOUR TOXIC SOLUTIONS AND RUIN IT."

That's when you can surprise her and tell her the only thing that you are going to put into it is plain water. She won't believe you but she might just tell you where it is hidden.

OK, I can't resist any longer....do you suppose that if we were leave the Vicks Vaporub in we could "open up" the bore a little; say take a barrel intended for .490 round ball up to .495? Maybe even use a heavy dose of Vicks and take a .50 up to .54? Would patch lube tend to run and drip in a Vicks'd barrel? You might have to wipe more often.
Bobby Hoyt probably knows; but if so he probably won't say; you know, trade secrets and such.

 

[Pete G]

OK, I can't resist any longer....do you suppose that if we were leave the Vicks Vaporub in we could "open up" the bore a little; say take a barrel intended for .490 round ball up to .495? Maybe even use a heavy dose of Vicks and take a .50 up to .54? Would patch lube tend to run and drip in a Vicks'd barrel? You might have to wipe more often.
Bobby Hoyt probably knows; but if so he probably won't say; you know, trade secrets and such.

You should have resisted...