Here is a video by Clevinger Customs illustrating it: I use the Brownells nitre blueing salts, which are a combination of sodium nitrite, sodium nitrate, and potassium nitrate. Hunter Rising is a wikiHow Staff Writer based in Los Angeles. "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6dwEQfHK1tk_ZeaA4PniOA/", 2. The difference is immersion in boiling water for bluing. You need to constantly be adding in a bit of water to bring the boiling point back down into the range you need. This is often achieved without chemicals by simply heating the steel until a blue oxide film appears. Knowledge is the power and fear is the opposite of power it cripples the mind and the body and almost always guarantee's a poor decision will be made. To remove them, you put the action/barrel into a sturdy vise (padded with soft jaws) and you use a piece of brass rod to drift the sights out. If youre interested, just ask and I can provide more details. Commercial products are widely sold in small bottles for cold bluing firearms, and these products are primarily used by individual gun owners for implementing small touch-ups to a gun's finish, to prevent a small scratch from becoming a major source of rust on a gun over time. Thoroughly degrease the area to be reblued with acetone. I wouldnt use this bluing method for these items. (meaning oxygen atoms are able to attach themselves to the outer layer of the steel)We did this with an electromagnet! You can experiment ultimately what oils to use. Water is great for rapidly quenching the hot metal, but it could cause thin steel to distort or crack. When heat treating a forged blade you get the whole knife glowing, then submerge just the blade in the oil for 8 seconds. I don't understand why you are submerging it in oil? That means 50-60 revolutions to make a foot. If you look at the temps that Tenifur(SP) and Melonite(sp) and early Pakerizing processes used this is nothing. You risk a big fire that is self sustaining by the reaction itself. New guns are typically available in blued finish options offered as the least-expensive finish, and this finish is also the least effective at providing rust resistance, relative to other finishes such as Parkerizing or hard chrome plating or nitriding processes like Tenifer. Then, use a pair of tongs to carry the steel to a container filled with water or vegetable, and submerge the hot metal in the liquid. Black oxide provides minimal protection against corrosion, unless also treated with a water-displacing oil to reduce wetting and galvanic action. for 6-8 hours. It is caused by a layer of oxide that forms when the steel is heated. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. "dateModified": "2022-03-27", Probably the main one is the content of so-called "carbon, "I was looking at making a set of plate armor and I wanted to see how to harden the breastplate. My dad keeps his in a big safe with large desiccant packs that he threw in there. Picture Information. Friction, as from holster wear, quickly removes cold bluing, and also removes hot bluing, rust, or fume bluing over long periods of use. There's also blued hardware available, like nuts, bolts, screws, and hinges. I have cut and polished 4 pieces of mild steel to demonstrate different colour stages. There are many simple ways to achieve good bluing. Even with safety glasses and a full-face shield, a rubber apron, rubber boots, etc it is possible to get salts into your eyes and all over the rest of you. Even a fingerprint will affect the consistency of the colour. Oil-free steel wool is also sold by woodworking shops. Please be careful with the cold bluing solutions. Once it's cooled down, take the object out of the oil and place it on a piece of paper/cloth and let it set for about 20 minutes. Its durable and wears well. If you drop a piece of paper in there, or hydrocarbon compounds (like oil or grease on your part). }, Its nice when something can be re-used a time or two, especially when used in diversified ways. This process was repeated until the desired depth of color was achieved or the metal simply did not color further. The mixed fumes of the acids produce a uniform rust on the surface of the parts (inside and out) in about 12 hours. Thermometers and stirring tools are also needed, as well as something to heat up the tanks. Fe3O4 requires chemicals and/or heat to push the iron to full oxidation. Rinse them in a cold water tank after. Posted December 21, 2009. Submerge in water and scrape edge. Theres nothing I see as super-dangerous about blueing other than trying to do hot salt blueing without all the correct safety equipment and precautions. Answer Remove the bolt & trigger group this might require a pin punch on some guns to pull the trigger group.From what little I can see in the picture here . Hi SteelJunkee Method is as follows: Fit rod into drill and set at constant speed Clean rods with acetone on clean rag Use butane and propane mix blow torch to achieve colour range Quench in water Dry The weird thing is that they look great for around 4-5 days then deteriorate. 1/16-inch pivot wire has a circumference of ~0.2in. Blue or Black rust is complete passivation of the steel surface Fe3O4. Fill a heat-safe container with water or oil deep enough to submerge your steel. Most knives, rifle receivers and barrels are heated to at least 1200F and cooled and drawn at 490F-700F. It turns out I have. You want 0000 steel wool for carding between coats. 3 years ago Did you make this project? 'Browning' is controlled red rust Fe2O3, and is also known as 'pluming' or 'plum brown'. Frequent TTAG commenter Dyspeptic Gunsmith saw the gun above in our postA Garden Gun Cultivates a Newfound Fascinationand answered reader questions about blueing/reblueing a gun thusly: If the rust is very fine and there is still substantial blueing left on the gun, you might want to strip the blueing. Question That would be a hot salt blueing mix. I wasnt planning on doing it for a few months. } Not only does it give you an alchemical feeling of satisfactionbut it also gives the metal a finish to stop corrosion. Your 700F temp is too high, IMO. This heating forms the blue on the plate. on Introduction, looks nice but you are using what is known as heat treatment which will darken steel, not using bluing salts as in gun bluing of rifle barrels all in all very nice instructable, Reply Bluing is most commonly used by gun manufacturers, gunsmiths, and gun owners to improve the cosmetic appearance of and provide a measure of corrosion resistance to their firearms. Sorry for the misunderstanding. Theres nothing wrong with your method, but is is very hazardous, especially to people who have never done anything like it before. To shrink, I assumed you heated the steel plate only, to expand the hole in it. For the color change to be uniform you have to remove the grease, oil, paint etc or it looks blotchy. For this reason, it is considered not to add any appreciable thickness to precisely-machined gun parts. Can a softly tempered piece be re-tempered harder without going through the hardening procedure again? Degrease and heat the items to be blued in a steel pan to about 700F. The use of stainless steel alloy varies a lot from one manufacturer to the other and thats why the bluing effect wont always be consistent. Heat the gun parts. Fill the tank with a suitable amount of water then add in the bluing salt using the correct ratio. I can keep a Krylon can always handy for touch-ups. Where/how did you think I got to the point I could make nice guns? You should note that the blue layer is rather delicate so dont treat it roughly. To heat this, I use a Coleman camp stove and a 15# jug of LPG gas. I tried heating the barrel in sections (as Brownells says is ok) but did not get a very good result, being unable to get a uniform heat in any =thing approaching more than a few inches at a time. Craig, torch bluing is a real thing that has been use a lot in the custom gun world, mostly for screw heads but even for complete muzzle loader creations ( the vendor will be quite proud of his work it seems as cost increases considerably to a finished item). Its a good process, but it isnt a 1:1 replacement for blueing. Add 5 lbs of regular table salt to the water. While the rod may heat some by conduction, it wouldn't get hot enough to start the color-forming process. THANKS DG. This method must not be used on critically heat-treated parts such as receivers, slides or springs. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 914,567 times. You should keep guns in a safe, if you can. You can then u. se a soft brush to gently remove all the residue of the cleaning solution on the components. BUT like so many power tools on guns, it is possible to create expensive screw-ups to fix on guns with power tools, and buffing wheels are no exception. In comparison, rust, the red oxide of iron (Fe2O3), undergoes an extremely large volume change upon hydration; as a result, the oxide easily flakes off, causing the typical reddish rusting away of iron. Because so many people are trying to do this sort of thing on the cheap, thats when I start thundering in my warnings about safety. Its oiled in production to keep it from rusting on store shelves. 3D Printed Futuristic Space Age Wall Clock. So unless you have sufficient equipment and skill, its advised to let a professional perform the bluing for you. Often it does provide an adequate cosmetic touch-up of a gun's finish when applied and additionally oiled on a regular basis. highfour, case hardening is a bit different from what you describe.. Usually, the steel needs some time in a medium that will allow carbon to penetrate the surface, and we are talking 15 minutes to several hours. Nowadays, even mild steel does have a certain amount of carbon in the alloy, which can explain your observations, if you google "super quench," you should find a waterbased quench that is rumoured to do the same, but in my humble opinion, water can do just that as well. Ok you gotta help me out herewhen I was studying mechanical engineering a good few years back a project I done involved using a compression fit of 1/4" thick plate steel into 1" thick steel rod, both mild steel. That doesnt happen easily or by accident. The blueing salt bath will be at about 286 to 292F, and as it is bubbling away, it is losing water, and the boiling point of the solution keeps climbing. This is a great time to point out that leaving guns in gun cases, especially the woolen/fleece cases, in the back of a closet, is one of the most sure-fire ways to rust the value completely out of a gun. Either that or the steel wool. Never know when it will come in handy. When polishing something like the above rifle/shotgun, youve got a pretty light coat of rust, without severe pitting. Many older browning and bluing formulas are based on corrosive solutions (necessary to cause metal to rust), and often contain cyanide or mercury salts solutions that are especially toxic to humans. Its a pretty straightforward process. Also Dont get the 275-300F bath on you. Cold blues will react with steel at room temperature, but you get more aggressive reactions when you heat the gun to, oh, 150 to 200F. Referring to the post that started all of this; Dyspeptic Gunsmith says: By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. I am using bronze, is it for a polish? Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Wear disposable nitrile gloves, work in adequate ventilation, bag and dispose of all rags/towels used in the process in their own bags, and quickly. I think I was drinking heavily (and likely doing stupid things in my shop with high heat and flammables at the time, possibly while juggling chainsaws) at the time I made that comment - without reading carefully. Degrease a pad of 0000 steel wool with acetone. Premium fencing blades are often offered with a blued finish. You can make a Caustic Soda KNO3 water bath: 65% Lye (aka sodium hydroxide) How to Blue (Bluing) Steel Using Oven Or Torch and Oil Method OOMAN 2.28K subscribers Subscribe 872 112K views 4 years ago My apologies for the background I have at least three cold blue solutions in my shop including Oxpho-blue, 44-40 and others. "author": "Christopher Graham", If the sights need to be stripped & blued, follow the same procedure, but dont polish on them. Excessive buffing on stainless steel could result in a grainy appearance so do it with care. The steel will pull some of the carbon out of the oil while quenching and harden the outer portion of the metal. Hot blueing is a good process, especially if you have a lot of iron to shove through the blueing process quickly. The parts are then boiled in distilled water, blown dry, then carded, as with rust bluing. - Ballachy", "Bluing of Steel by Heat Treatment: Why and How it Happens? Another good test for determining when the steel is ready is seeing if a magnet sticks to its surface. Keep heating the steel until you notice a blue color form on the metal. on Introduction. It is hazardous. It is slightly caustic, so be careful you dont leave it on the gun for long. Ill be saving this for the future. I heat treated a piece of carbon steel to make it less likely to wear (using its edge as a cutting surface in a wood turning application). the cost of all the tanks you need for rinse & boil-out I didnt drop outta my mommas womb being able to do this stuff. Bluing is also used for providing coloring for steel parts of fine clocks and other fine metalwork. The blue appearance of the oxide film is also used as an indication of temperature when tempering carbon steel after hardening, indicating a state of temper suitable for springs. I like using acetone to strip the heavy oil on guns, because it lightens up the oils and makes them easier to strip with a water-based cleaner. This is how Colt made their rifles and pistols prior to Civil War you can read all about the process. on Introduction, Hello my name is Joe and Im doing a project where Im trying to achieve the same outcome. If I remember right they then heated them up a bit and applied fish oil orignal and I think latter switching to linseed oil to protect the finish and give it that wet look. Its the corrosive gift that just keeps on giving. Colour case hardening occurs when soft steels were packed in a reasonably airtight crucible in a mixture of charred leather, bone charcoal and wood charcoal. It is usually inadvisable to use cold bluing as a touch-up where friction is present. 8 years ago Metal parts that look black or blue-black are usually blued (rather than painted). Also remember, by adjusting the heat you can get whatever color you want. There are many methods you can use to blue the steel. Heat the area with a torch until it stops sweating. Salts. -Something to hold your piece with, make sure it's appropriate to hold it with so it doesn't get too hot in your hands. No one can even tell you what the heat treat is on a 1895 Mauser for instance yet we do not wet ourselves before we shoot one! The de-greasing you do directly affects the uniformity of the browning or blueing. Thank you so much for sharing such a great article. So you will get a shinier finish. Youre a gunsmith who has a lot of nice guns! If you dont drain the barrel or action recesses properly before putting a barrel or action into a hot salt tank, then you will find out in a hell of a hurry as the water flashes to steam under the surface and again, splatters hot, highly caustic lye/nitrite salts all over you and your shop. Being prepared is important if you can not measure the temp. Its much cheaper anyways. That said, heres the truth: The best blueing you can have on a gun is simple, safe to do, but takes a long time. You are nitre blueing here. As mentioned, cold bluing can be done at room temperature with decent results. "@type": "Article", I dont use hot salt blueing because much of my work is on older double guns, which have ribs that are soft-soldered into place. I'm trying to be positive and constructive, and think this is: for an amateur to stick a very hot torch-heated metal object into a plastic container filled with oil is simply dumb (ok, more polite: "irresponsible") at best, highly dangerous at worst. I handed a buddy my wallet and cell phone, and stepped under the safety shower and got wet. Ive hot salt blued guns in a shop with the proper equipment and you can shove a river of iron through a single hot salt tank in an afternoon. *700F is very close to the heat treatment temperature of some steels. In my case I drilled/threaded the metal piece and made a holder with a threaded end. Depending on the manufacturers manual, youll have to prepare roughly 6 to 8 tanks to perform the bluing effectively and efficiently. The process isnt intended for bronze. After the Civil War they switched to another process. this article statement Keep them in that state while you heat them but be sure to not boil up the tank. A non-linear resistance property of the blued steel of razor blades, foreshadowing the same property later discovered in semiconductor diode junctions, along with the ready availability of blued steel razor blades, led to the use of razor blades as a detector in crystal set AM radios that were built by servicemen (as foxhole radios) or by prisoners of war during World War II.[8]. It was left in a flannel gun case in the back of a moist closet for 25+ years. Gee, Im thinkin Duro or cero coat maybe even Krylon might be a good enough.. 4 years ago Glad that there are folks like you around. it would appear these sights are drifted into dovetails. How do I do this? The inside barrel was saved by the fact it was so full of lead fouling. Very true. Polish to at least 400 grit. Learn more Steel is a common durable alloy, and while most steel used in tools is already tough, you can harden it even more to prevent wear and tear. You will get it. Alternatively, You could store them in a hard case (like a pelican with a purge) and throw some desiccant packs in there as well. Ive gotten hot blue salts on me splashed into my hair. By using our site, you agree to our. Hot NaOH is so alkaline it is great as dissolving organic materials. "url": "https://shootingmystery.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Shootinglogo.png" Slow rust blueing can take a week or more to accomplish, but it is a durable blue job like no other. The thickness of the oxide is a function of how hot you heat the steel (The color is due to interference of light reflecting from the surface of the oxide coating, and light reflecting from the oxide-steel interface). The cabinet is then sealed. Next you hold it in front of your heat source until a blue oxide layer covers the whole blade edge. "https://www.facebook.com/Shooting-Mystery-110244180901951", What did you use for polishing your pieces and Im guessing you polished then added the chemicals after?Thanks, Joe, Question WebThe gun bluing process Start with 1 gallon of water and add it to a deep fryer that has been thoroughly cleaned. Have proper ventilation and use proper modern safety gear! I used Express Blue #1 on lots of guns, where I want something less labor intensive than slow rust blueing (which I wont describe here): most steel wool isnt oil-free. OK, now with the sights out and the trigger group off, you can put on the rust/blue remover on the barrel/action. This article has been viewed 914,567 times. I wore latex gloves, as Brownells recommended, but used a pot holder to handle the hot barrel, and that may have been the source. When putting water in your boil-out tank, use distilled water if you have water with high mineral content. Ferrari installs valve seats in their aluminum cylinder heads via robot. Reply Black iron wire You will need black iron wire to tie around any object you Pour in Youre just using stump remover to do it. If there is any finish left on the metal, it will interfere with the bluing pr Turn the heat on and give a good regular stirring until it gets very hot and starts to steam. COPYRIGHT 2021, THETRUTHABOUTGUNS.COM. It is also used by machinists, to protect and beautify tools made for their own use. "keywords": ["how to blue stainless steel"], You turn up your nose at crap guns? Spray down the whole barreled action with copious amounts of WD-40, inside and out.
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