To brown or not to brown?

[renovato]

I hear that cow urine does the same thing, Is that true?

I can tell you that human pee will even brown stainless steel. I know first hand from experience. I have an AMT Backup .380 that used to toss brass back in my face. In one magazine full it landed a hot one on top of my shooting glasses, another on my ear, and a third down my shirt pocket. After having a singed eyebrow, ear and nipple, I had enough! I tossed it in the weeds and hosed it down good out of spite. Left it there for the better part of the summer. When I finally retrieved it, mostly to keep someone else from finding it, it cleaned up to a soft brown finish. :redface:

 

[Pork Chop]

If you really hated it that much, just box it up, mark it as biohazard, and ship it to me!

 

[Billhuntz]

So who does it.....??????

Is that a set up??

What's the secret??

 

[DrTimboone]

Mike Brooks

 

[Robert58]

Mike Brooks made that Rifle.
[url] http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/195171/[/url]

Robert

 

[Billhuntz]

I knew that. That's why I said it was a set up. I do want to know the secret though.

 

[Robert58]

Sorry 'bout that.

I'd like to know the secret too.

I hate Brown.

Robert

 

Do a search for "patina" or "aging" on this site and you will find several threads discussing the various methods used to achieve the blue/grey look - the methods vary depending on how much of the aged etch look you want or if you just want the blue/grey look. Those threads will include the one used by Mike Brooks.

All the methods essentially use some type of acid (phosphoric, nitric, muriatic, vinegar, et al) or metallic salt (bleach, ferric chloride, et al) based etchant and then sometime in conjunction with liquid "cold" bluing........

BTW - urine from any source is a combination salt and acid (uric/ureic) etchant.....I'll stick to bleach and Super Blue (my favorite combo) or muriatic thank you very much.......

 

[renovato]

Pork Chop, a couple years later I got around to adjusting it. Was a combination of ejector angle, extractor tension, and the round below it trying to feed too high. What a pain, but now it's a keeper. A pee browned keeper that my friends get a giggle out of when they hear the story.