Cosd Posted April 3, 2010 Report Share Posted April 3, 2010 (edited) So some of you know a few months back I posted here saying what a stupid thing I'd done to store my Browning Medalist in it's case which was damp. It stayed in the safe for two weeks and when I got it out I saw the barrels were spotted with rust from top to bottom! Some fine grit paper and oil quickly removed the rust but the bluing had gone on every spot, leaving the barrels mottled with silver. I found a company on the net that specialise in products for various coatings/finishes to metals. After a long chat with the owner he told me that he is actually a chemist and he makes these products, and that he used to supply Webley their bluing solutions prior to them sub contracting the bluing process out to a third party. So I ordered myself a bottle of the bluing gel, this was the same as the liguid he sells but since I preferred not to immerse the barrels in the liquid he sold me the gel which is applied by cloth. Step1 Make a stand to hold the barrels so that I can work on them without having to handle them too much. So some scrap wood, a saw, 4 screws and 10 minutes later I had a stand. Step2 Clean the barrels using white spirit and a cloth, then cleaned the bluing off using pavement cleaner. This particular one has 10% hydrochloric acid which I mixed with 2 parts water. The bluing came off surprisingly easily. Step3 There were only minor blemishes on the metalwork so I sorted these using wet 500 grit paper to start with followed by wet 800 grit and to polish off 000 scotch pad. I remember reading a thread on here where someone was contemplating chroming his barrels for something different at the clay ground. Well I couldn't resist, so the serious work stopped and I put the gun back together for a quick photo shoot Step4 Then the bluing process started. The barrels were washed and de-greased then dried using a hair dryer. I applied the coats using a soft cloth, and topped it up every 10 minutes. The barrels got darker and darker. At first they started very patchy, but the chap at the shop explained this might happen as the steel isn't pure. The more I applied the darker they got, but as the layers went on the difference each time was barely noticable. I could have applied more coats and I may do tomorrow, but having been at it over two days and other jobs pressing, I finished the process and washed the barrels down stopping the bluing process. The barrels were finished off with some gun oil and I am very pleased with the results. Are they perfect, no they aint, but they are very good. I'm glad I had a go at this as now I feel confident to do this to any barrels on a gun I use in the hide, as the finish is more than decent. The finished barrels. I think they have come out very smart. From a few feet away they look perfect, on close inspection the areas that took longer to take colour are still barely visible, but looking at some other guns I have here which are not almost new, they are all a little patchy (if that's the right phrase) on very close inspection. And the gun back together Edited April 4, 2010 by Cosd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libs Posted April 3, 2010 Report Share Posted April 3, 2010 Top job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebarrels Posted April 3, 2010 Report Share Posted April 3, 2010 Look good to me mate well done BB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utectok Posted April 3, 2010 Report Share Posted April 3, 2010 (edited) Brilliant ok now I want to do mine could you pm me the details of where the magic blueing comes from? Also do you just use brick cleaner to strip the barrels? Can't wait to have shot hope mine come out as good as yours!! Edited April 3, 2010 by utectok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fireshot Posted April 3, 2010 Report Share Posted April 3, 2010 Brilliant ok now I want to do mine could you pm me the details of where the magic blueing comes from? Also do you just use brick cleaner to strip the barrels? Can't wait to have shot hope mine come out as good as yours!! Nice job can you pm me the details please all the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deny essex Posted April 3, 2010 Report Share Posted April 3, 2010 (edited) Nice job Cos, I exspect you to shoot straighter with it now, no excuses accepted that the barrel spots put you off next time we are out ! Edited April 3, 2010 by deny essex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted April 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2010 Nice job Cos, I exspect you to shoot straighter with it now, no excuses accepted that the barrel spots put you off next time we are out ! Very good Mr D, I never saw that one coming!! For the others who asked for the gel I used http://www.caswelleurope.co.uk/coldox.htm, this is the site, but if you call and speak to the owner there and ask him for the gel, he will advise on how to prepare and apply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted April 4, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2010 Brilliant ok now I want to do mine could you pm me the details of where the magic blueing comes from? Also do you just use brick cleaner to strip the barrels? Can't wait to have shot hope mine come out as good as yours!! Apologies I didn't see your question yesterday.... Well it's the hydrochloric acid that you need to strip the barrels and brick cleaner has it in small quantities; As said, the one I used had 10% acid, and I used this, 1 part patio/brick cleaner with 2 parts water. Poured this in a container and using a soft cloth and a scotch pad the blue came off very easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MK38 Posted April 4, 2010 Report Share Posted April 4, 2010 Looks like a first rate job , well done ! I was once told that most of the art in blueing was in the preperation, and it looks like you did the prep very well. Does it look as deep as factory blue in daylight ? I'd be intertested if you think it will last for a good time as i have a couple of projects that i might have a go at. Not critising your photo skills , but some more pics would be good Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted April 4, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2010 Looks like a first rate job , well done !I was once told that most of the art in blueing was in the preperation, and it looks like you did the prep very well. Does it look as deep as factory blue in daylight ? I'd be intertested if you think it will last for a good time as i have a couple of projects that i might have a go at. Not critising your photo skills , but some more pics would be good Dave In daylight it isn't as dark as factory blue, but it isn't far off. If I add more coats the finish will become darker. Like I said, it isn't factory blue, but it's very presentable. Time will tell if it is durable. Regarding my pictures, because I wanted to get a number of pictures on the thread, I had to reduce the quality drastically. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
here iam Posted April 5, 2010 Report Share Posted April 5, 2010 Nice job mate with being a tight yorkshire *** how much did all this cost you? was it cheaper than going to a gunsmith? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus Posted April 5, 2010 Report Share Posted April 5, 2010 Looks a good job Cosd. I must say I thought the 'chrome' looked very nice against the wood, nice contrast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSS Posted April 6, 2010 Report Share Posted April 6, 2010 Looks very good mate, I might have to give it a go myself. Where do you buy the brick acid? Do you think nitromors would do it? All the best, SSS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted April 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2010 Nice job mate with being a tight yorkshire *** how much did all this cost you? was it cheaper than going to a gunsmith? I think all in all it cost me under £20 Looks very good mate, I might have to give it a go myself. Where do you buy the brick acid?Do you think nitromors would do it? All the best, SSS The brick acid can be purchased at a B&Q type store or any builders merchants. Just check the acid content, you need around 5-10%. I'm not sure about Nitromores. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz2381 Posted April 9, 2010 Report Share Posted April 9, 2010 Top job Definately worth being proud of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humperdingle Posted April 9, 2010 Report Share Posted April 9, 2010 I was once told that most of the art in blueing was in the preperation, and it looks like you did the prep very well.Does it look as deep as factory blue in daylight ? I did a single barrel Webley 410 some time ago, and it looked great - Took loads of time to prepare etc, followed the instructions to the letter... Until I took the gun into the daylight, where I could see it was streaked in a couple of places. Tried again, and it came up a bit better, but that's a good tip. Take it outside to check the eveness of the blueing - Don't rely on artificial lighting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted June 28, 2010 Report Share Posted June 28, 2010 I have just ordered a kit that these guys now do I will do an air rifle cyclinder first I'll let you know how I get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cannon Posted June 28, 2010 Report Share Posted June 28, 2010 Tried stripping blueing with nitromors before and found it a bit of a challenge. It did work but took quite a considerable amount of time and effort. Check out Patio and Brick cleaner manufactured by cementone. It usually comes in 5 ltr tubs which is far more than what's required, but it is very effective Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
besty57 Posted June 28, 2010 Report Share Posted June 28, 2010 nice job you did there.but i must admit the barrels looked fine when they were stripped to metal.something different i suppose. well done. alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roughcoat Posted July 12, 2010 Report Share Posted July 12, 2010 Nice job cosd, Im going to try it myself,I'll order the stuff tomorrow . Atb Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lampwick Posted July 12, 2010 Report Share Posted July 12, 2010 Lookk like a good job! In the process of tidying up a couple of sbs' never thought to re blue reckon I'm going to order some gel too! Do you think £20 worth would cover two sets of barrels? Also bring lazy if I blue straight on top of the old will the finish look #### Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted July 20, 2010 Report Share Posted July 20, 2010 Just finished doing my air cyclinder on the air rifle as a test with the liquid and it has come up looking great. Really recommend this stuff I'll try and get a picture up soon but better than the chiense blue orginal gun. I'm gong to do some shotgun barrels soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted July 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2010 Lookk like a good job! In the process of tidying up a couple of sbs' never thought to re blue reckon I'm going to order some gel too! Do you think £20 worth would cover two sets of barrels? Also bring lazy if I blue straight on top of the old will the finish look #### Speak to the chemist who makes the gel, but if I remember correctly he advised to strip completly and re-blue. Bear in mind guys he also does the liquid version which you can submerge the barrels, but I wasn't confident in blocking the barrels so asked for the gel which you just rub on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted July 20, 2010 Report Share Posted July 20, 2010 Guys if in doubt speak to the chemist he knows his **** you do need to strip all the old blueing but he has a stripper liquid I used the liquid but also got some gel to try he gave it to me!!!! I used wine bottle corks and it worked fine the liquid he said would be a bit more even and it looks great need to check in in bright sun but looks even. I bought his new gun finishing kit has every thing in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hodmedod.one Posted July 25, 2010 Report Share Posted July 25, 2010 The stripping chemical in Nitro Mors is Sodium Hydroxide (Caustic Soda) not acid so it won't be suitable for removing the existing blueing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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