Mendi Kentucky Long Rifle question 2&3

[Tbache]

Thanks to lots of help from here, and my brother’s gun experience I have a couple of pictures how it went back together.
Forgive my ignorance, are the cotton wads or plugs you can fire as a “blank”?

We thought to recolor the barrel brown. We bought Plum smething and it requires the barrel be heated. I did a search here and there seems to be other methods. We don’t have an oven big enough and if we did how do you apply the dye when the steel is still hot. Must you keep it hot? My brother says Ithaca Gun used to heat the metal parts before applying the blueing. He worked as the night watchman as a teenager.
Any other suggestions?

 

[mooman76]

Heat the gun with a torch. Kind of a Pita but doable. Keep applying until it stops sizzling. Clean it up and reapply. Do this at least 3 or 4 times until you get the color and darkness you want. Follow the directions and you shouldn't have a problem. I wore rubber gloves when applying and make sure the barrel is completely clean of all oils including oil from your hands. An oven works great and simplifies things if it can fit but usually can't. I did a pistol once also.

 

[Tbache]

Heat the complete barrel, then apply? When cooled, heat again? Just talked to my brother and we decided to use two propane torches to avoid over heating. Sound like what you are suggesting?

 

[mooman76]

Plug the barrel and where the nipple goes or you will get solution and rust. Just keep moving the torch(s) and you won't over heat. You don't need to let it cool completely but clean with water. I used cotton balls. Clean with alcohol or something else that would leave an oily film. You should have directions with the solution, just fallow them the best you can. Hang it in the air so you don't have to touch it more than you have too.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Do all that heating and applying somewhere there is good ventilation.

I use the Wahkon Bay Browning Solution. I also have some stands to place my treated parts in my van when the summer sun is heating the interior of my van to 165 degrees F. That really gets the solution working. For some it may become too brown to almost black. However I like the results. In the bright sunlight, the brown is much more apparent. The lock is blued and rubbed back.

 

[Dale Lilly]

Why not use one that does not require heat. I use Laurel Mountain Forge browning. It will even brown through some oil [fingerprints]. I have browned several barrels and they are really nice. I am no expert … it just works. Example pictured is my recently built Lyman Great Plans Rifle.
Polecat

 

[SDSmlf]

Why not use one that does not require heat. I use Laurel Mountain Forge browning. It will even brown through some oil [fingerprints]. I have browned several barrels and they are really nice. I am no expert … it just works. Polecat

Find Laurel Mountain Forge Browning straight forward and foolproof for anyone that can read and follow instructions.

 

[Dale Lilly]

I added a picture to my post about Laurel Mountain Forge browning. It is pretty conclusive. Polecat

 

[Tbache]

Thank you for the suggestion. I presume I will have to find on line, the pickings at the 4 gun stores around here are getting thin in the black powder dept. no too much interest these days they say.

 

[toot]

a nice gun.

 

[rafterob]

I have had good luck with the Plum Brown hot solution. I hang the barrel by the tang screw hole with coat hanger wire. You can do the barrel in sections you don't have to try to get the whole barrel hot at one time. I test for approximate correct heat by licking my finger and touching the barrel. If it sizzles you are good. I use a few cotton balls wadded together and hold them with leather gloves to apply the solution. Plan on 3 coats at least to get a uniform color. Yes, plug the nipple hole and the barrel end with a wood plug. Between coats you should "card" the rust back. In my case, this involves a light rubbing with steel wool. After your last coat wash the barrel with a baking soda and water solution and let the barrel dry. Coat the barrel liberally with oil and let it sit for 5 days. Then wash the barrel with warm soapy water, rinse and dry. I then apply a coat of paste wax.

 

[Dale Lilly]

Thank you for the suggestion. I presume I will have to find on line, the pickings at the 4 gun stores around here are getting thin in the black powder dept. no too much interest these days they say.

Just enter Laurel Mountain Forge browning .. product and tutorial will appear. Dale