Metal Finish Options

[rich pierce]

Brownell's Oxpho Blue is pretty quick. I'm sure it is not based on historical recipes

 

[kruzer1]

Cold blues do not hold up much either ..you look at them wrong and they wear off. Slow rust blue does not scratch or wear easily... Even with sandpaper if done right. Also have not seen any cold blue have the depth and quality of a slow rust blue... Of course as in anything prep work is key.

 

[Carolina_Skinner]

Sounds interesting. Any pictures?

 

[kruzer1]

Most of my slow rust blue projects are Mauser's.... but I did one invest arms

project with it.

I just want people to be aware for those who prefer blue to brown that there is a period way you can do your own bluing fairly inexpensively that is tough as nails.

 

[Carolina_Skinner]

Ok, so it basically appears just like bluing. Interesting, but not really my style.

Anyone tried browning to get pitting, then sanding down to bare metal, bluing, then sanding it down to a nice gray? I've seen some that LOOK like that's what was done, but not exactly sure. I do like the look of that, not sure if it's PC though.

 

[kansas_volunteer]

Brownell's Oxpho Blue is pretty quick. I'm sure it is not based on historical recipes

I get a pretty good blue with Oxpho. I have my own method. I use the gel type. I apply a liberal amount to the part I'm bluing and let it set for a little while. Then I start using an acid brush and stirring the Oxpho around to get fresher stuff next to the metal. I keep this up until the Oxpho turns a biluos green. It then gets wiped off usually revealing a good blue color. Occasionally an extra coat is needed. Large parts can be blued but it takes some working back and forth to get an even blue. A polished part will have some depth in the blue. I once polished a hatchet to a mirror brightness then blued it with Oxpho. The effect was quite interesting. Also, hot parts seem to blue a little better with Oxpho, much like Plummer Brown is applied.

 

[Black Hand]

Ok, so it basically appears just like bluing. Interesting, but not really my style.

Anyone tried browning to get pitting, then sanding down to bare metal, bluing, then sanding it down to a nice gray? I've seen some that LOOK like that's what was done, but not exactly sure. I do like the look of that, not sure if it's PC though.

If you must, brown to get pitting then use Naval Jelly to remove the brown - much faster and less chance of rounding corners. That said, treating with Naval Jelly alone will give you a gray color...