Rust bluing results

[bakerjw]

I am in the end stages of building my Traditions .50 cal Kentucky rifle kit. Still waiting for BLO to fully dry.
Some like the dark brown rust look; however, I wanted this to be blued, so last weekend, I undertook the rust bluing of the barrel. I used the rusting compound from DGW.

In preparation, I wet polished the barrel with 600 grit sand paper before thoroughly cleaning it with soap and water and a final wash of acetone. All contact was with nitrile gloves. Clean is a big key to success. An application of the rusting compound and a moist shower gave a nice light rust layer. A boiling and light rub with clean 0000 steel wool produced the start of a nice black color. Each successive treatment of the rusting compound gave a deeper rust and thus deeper black.

After 4 treatments, it was a deep black color with a lustrous sheen as seen here.
I was more than pleased with the final result.

 

[Phil Coffins]

Very nice, and common finish back in the day.

 

[bakerjw]

Thanks... I was THRILLED with the results. Now, next Tuesday I will show up and shoot with the black powder guys at the range so that they can see the havoc that they have wrought.

 

[deermanok]

Very nice looking.

 

[Big Bubba]

That looks good!

 

[Whitworth]

Well done Sir.

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

I am in the end stages of building my Traditions .50 cal Kentucky rifle kit. Still waiting for BLO to fully dry.
Some like the dark brown rust look; however, I wanted this to be blued, so last weekend, I undertook the rust bluing of the barrel. I used the rusting compound from DGW.
After 4 treatments, it was a deep black color with a lustrous sheen as seen here.
I was more than pleased with the final result.

Nice job!! I hope my soon to be rust blued barrel turns out that good!

 

[bakerjw]

One thing that I found. For the first boil, I had the stove running. It was an electric range. The rust on the bottom of the barrel came off and I can only assume that it was too much radiated heat or magnetic flux from the electric elements. Subsequent boils were not boiling but very close to doing so.

Nice job!! I hope my soon to be rust blued barrel turns out that Good!

As I mentioned, cleanliness is the key. When I started polishing the barrel with wet 600 grit sandpaper and then cleaning it, I wore gloves every step of the way.
Also, the first rust layer was kind of light but later treatments were a lot heavier looking.

 

[Lipps1948]

One thing that I found. For the first boil, I had the stove running. It was an electric range. The rust on the bottom of the barrel came off and I can only assume that it was too much radiated heat or magnetic flux from the electric elements. Subsequent boils were not boiling but very close to doing so.



As I mentioned, cleanliness is the key. When I started polishing the barrel with wet 600 grit sandpaper and then cleaning it, I wore gloves every step of the way.
Also, the first rust layer was kind of light but later treatments were a lot heavier looking.

What did you use to put the barrel in for the boil?

 

[bakerjw]

A piece of gutter.
It worked well.

 

[Lipps1948]

A piece of gutter.
It worked well.

Thanks