LMF browning woes

[Fur_Trapper]

Yesterday I began the browning process on my barrel. After 12 hours it only turned a green color no rust. I thought maybe not enough humidty so I then cleaned and resanded with a very fine grit. I started the whole process over again only this time I turned on a humidifier near by. 3 hours later and it starting to have the green look again. What am I doing wrong? Also in the instructions it says not to rub the barrel. How do you apply without rubbing? Is this refering to a buffing motion?

 

[smil]

Use a wet applicator and give it one wipe. You cant go back over it or it will start the copper look and not brown. Do it in multiple application to cover everything. It blends well.

 

[Fur_Trapper]

So is this green color the cooper look?

 

[Lock Nut]

No, The "coppering" he was talking about will have a copper color.
The air is very dry during the winter so it's gonna take longer to brown. You need to get the humidity up. Use a warm mist humidifier near by or hang the barrel in the bath room with the shower. (not in the shower :wink: ) Keep putting on light coats and let sit for a few hours and repeat. They always turn green at first and look like ****. But it will eventually start turning
brown.

 

[kaintuck]

With a paper towel, wet the part or barrel using ONE stroke to wet.

Hang it in the bathroom and FORGET it there for a few days.....
It will brown....card it with a dry paper towel or piece of blue jeans.....the repeat step one again......I do two to three times.

The wash with hot water and baking soda......it still will give some rusting for a week or so.....but just hot water rinse, the oil her.......done!

Your trying to " watch to pot boil"........

 

[matt denison]

Read the instructions. Also there is a tutorial at the top of this forum. No need to type in instructions when they are already available.

Note: your barrel will not turn brown with only one application of solution no matter how long you wait. Read the instructions and card and re apply as instructed.

p.s. I have used LMF many many times and the first application always turns a grey-green color. It will begin to turn brown with subsequent applications.

 

[Spikebuck]

I used a small bathroom as my heat/humid box. I put a small heater in there and kept the room at 78 degrees. I put two large pails of water in front of the heater with rags hanging out that wicked up water. I also ran the shower a few times a day until the fog would start, but not to the point where it was running down the mirror or walls to keep the humidity up. I also followed the LMF instructions absolutely to a tee, including no "rubbing". I used a dampened cleaning patch and only did one light swipe per flat per "time." My only deviation was that I thoroughly degreased the barrel prior to starting. In theory, the LMF product contains a degreaser that is supposed to work as applied, but I figured it absolutely could not hurt to degrease before starting. Also”¦I had sanded down to 400 grit, so I had a pretty smooth barrel to start. My goal was a relatively smooth even brown finish”¦not a rough finish.

After just 3 hours:

1 1/2 days:

Finished in 3 days...really 2 1/2 would have been enough.

I then followed LMF's instructions for neutralizing the browning process with baking soda and then heating the barrel to drive off any moisture. Then it went in an oil bath. I just used a piece of old corner molding and formed an aluminum foil "tank". Used 30 weight motor oil and soaked for 24 hours.

Finished:

 

[jamesthomas]

That looks very nice!! :hatsoff: :bow: .

 

[Barry Stewart]

I have used LMF twice and have been very happy with it. My first experience with it came out slightly coppery. The second time I used it I took some advise from this forum and only went down to about 200 grit finish. This seemed to help a lot, I think the smoother the metal the less oxidizing occurs. Maybe re-sand a little rougher. Be patient and do several applications, the more applications the darker the end result. I just lightly "carded" the surface with a rag before each new application. Hope this helps and good luck.

 

[Barry Stewart]

I went back and re-read your original post. To more specifically answer your question I applied a thin layer only each time I applied it. Wet a rag with LMF and lightly run it down the length of the barrel. Don't worry if it looks uneven, that will be taken care by the multiple applications. Again remember to do several applications maybe five or six for a deep brown finish. Let it sit for 6 to 8 hours or longer between applications. I found it best to do this project when I could stick around the house for a whole weekend. I also did the whole process in a small bathroom and would occasionally would run the shower with some hot water for a few minutes. Good luck.

 

[Birddog6]

I have browned my last ? 20+ rifles in the bathroom. Shut off the vent & cover it.
Put a electric heater in there til it is about 85 deg.
Run the shower til the water on the mirror drips.
Put an old shower curtain flat on the lavatory.
Block the barrel up on each end with a piece of 2x2 about 6" long.

For Browning, sand barrel no finer than 220. (I glass bead my barrels & trim) Wet a cotton ball with the solution & just swipe it down the barrel on time, next flat one time, etc. Let it sit for 3 hrs. Card it with a Dixcel Wheel (Brownells) at about 1100 RPM. Apply solution again, repeat procedure.
DO NOT go over 3 hrs between carding or big flakes of rust will come off & then it is mottled looking.
DO NOT apply a second coat if you miss a spot or rub the solution on again, til After the 3 hrs. You will get it on the next round & it takes 6-7 applications to completely brown a barrel, using this method.

Takes me about 21 hrs to brown a barrel & the furniture. Yes I get up in the middle of the night or morning several times, but it is done.

Neutralize well with baking soda in boiling water. Wait 3 days to Insure it has stopped rusting. If it has not, neutralize it again. Grease the bottom of the barrel with RIG & put it in the stock.

Keith Lisle

PS: I use Latex gloves & change them every time I handle the barrel. Also take alcohol wipes & wipe off the doorknobs, as women love hand lotion & that has oil in it. This oil can cause uneven browning if it gets on your hands, then on the barrel.

 

[Old40Rod]

so I then cleaned and resanded with a very fine grit...

Therein lies your problem, IMHO. The finer the finish the harder it is to get the rust going in my experience. 220 grit is about the finest I would ever go. 150-180 grit is better.

 

[BEP]

The first time I used LMF browning, I had a good friend (now deceased) tell me "You're going to think that you've ruined your barrel after you apply the first coat. But follow the instructions, keep going, and it'll be just fine." And he was right. And I miss that guy every day.

 

[StewartLeach]

Mrs. Fox would not put up with what 'dog6 describes doing in the bathroom, so I had to get a bit clever. My solution to the low ambient humidity in semi-arid Colorado is one of those long, low plastic boxes used to store shoes or Christmas wrapping paper under a bed. A wet piece of old toweling is placed in the bottom, the tang and soft pine muzzle plug are supported on two pieces of 2 x 4 lumber. A small wood extension is fastened to the underside of the tang.

The first time I did this I used a desk lamp to keep things warm. Got the lamp too close and melted the box. Miz Fox, on observing these shenanigans, suggested putting a heating pad under the box. Perfect. Miz Fox is supportive of my shooting hobby as it doesn't leave me with enough money to drink much or chase other women.

LMF solution is applied with a soft paintbrush, one stroke at a time per flat. I open the box every couple of hours to rotate the barrel 180 degrees so the solution will redistribute itself. For carding I use scraps of Osnaburg fabric left from sewing projects.

White Fox, in the People's Republic of Boulder.

 

[matt denison]

Miz Fox is supportive of my shooting hobby as it doesn't leave me with enough money to drink much or chase other women"

:rotf: :rotf: :rotf: