Question about Birchwood Casey Blue & Rust remover

[rebelyell62]

Does any one know if the stuff mentioned above will remove case coloring, be it the real deal or chemically applied . I have a couple of cap locks I'd like to remove the case colors on. But would like some input first, the only warning on the bottle is not to use it on springs.
Thanx to all fer the help.
Wendell :hatsoff:

 

[Desert Rat]

I can't speak for the real deal but it should do the job on the chemically applied. I did a barrel that I'm not sure if it was blued or not(I don't know what it was) and the remover did a good job. I still hit it lighly with some sandpaper adn that barrel looks brand new.

 

[paulvallandigham]

Case Hardening involves both colors, and hardening. The process puts both carbon and silica into the surface of the " steel ", making it both harder, and colored, depending on the carbon used, the heat applied, and condition of the water used to quench. You can remove the colors of case hardening with a number of chemicals, but you will not necessarily remove the silicas and carbon from the surface. It will remain hardened, and will blue or brown differently than if the steel had not been case hardened. I am not sure its worth the effort to do what you want to do.

Other than find a way to reverse the case hardening process, I don't see how you will remove it. It would be easier and cheaper to simply start with a new gun or action.

 

[Zonie]

"...will remove case coloring..."
_______________________________________

The colors are surface oxides usually formed by heat, so, the answer is yes, it will remove the color.
If at first, it doesn't remove the color it is because the maker has covered the surface with something to protect it like clear lacquer or wax.

If you choose to use the BC product on a lock, you really should disassemble it first so the stuff doesn't get into the threads where you can't wash it out.
It is an acid and if not thoughly cleaned it will continue to eat the parts it's on.

Because it is a mild acid it will remove very little of the surface (much less than .0005) so if the part is truly color "case hardened" it will not remove the hardness. (Case Hardening usually penetrantes over .005 into the surface.)

 

[Kuckus]

Zonie's got it right. This stuff is also useful for "aging" a blued surface... with a little effort and caution, the blue will go to a really weathered / dull gray appearance :grin: .