Anyone doing any hot bluing soon?

284guy · Dec 19, 2018

Looking for someone to hot blue a few small pieces for me in the near future. Small barrel, receivers, etc. All of the smiths ive talked to lately save parts up until they have enough to blue, and none seem to be doing a tank anytime soon.

Member 34319 · Dec 19, 2018

@Velzey

BSG 75 · Dec 19, 2018

If the parts are no bigger than a 1911 pistol you can rust blue them yourself at home and get better results. It's fun and satisfying too. All you need is:

a way to boil water
an oven, blow dryer, or heat gun
a stainless steel pot or kettle that is large enough to hold the parts
distilled water
Mark Lee Express rust bluing solution https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-...bluing-chemicals/express-blue-1-prod8795.aspx
carding brushes https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-...rding-tools/hand-carding-brush-prod24795.aspx and https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-...ng-tools/gunsmith-carding-brush-prod6732.aspx
a can of brake cleaner and Birchwood Casey cleaner-degreaser https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-...surface-prep/cleaner-degreaser-prod24774.aspx
some boiled linseed oil (BLO)
disposable rubber gloves
kitchen tongs
cotton gun cleaning patches

Thoroughly degrease the parts with brake cleaner and Birchwood Casey cleaner-degreaser
Pre-heat the parts in the oven or with a blow dryer or heat gun
Apply the Mark Lee rust bluing solution with cotton gun cleaning patches. Allow the parts to rust for 15-30 minutes. Repeat until parts have a uniform thin layer of rust
Put the parts in a pot of boiling distilled water. Boil for 30-40 minutes until they have turned black
Remove the blackened parts and brush with the carding brushes
Repeat the above cycle 2 or 3 times until the parts will no longer rust when the rust bluing solution is applied. Rinse the parts and then apply boiled linseed oil

Here is a thread where several guys rust blued their surplus 1911s so you can see the results Oh gee.... (Rust bluing refinishing thread) - 1911Forum

284guy · Dec 19, 2018

Thanks

F2CMaDMaXX · Dec 19, 2018

FYI, rust bluing isn't the same as hot bluing, but it's still good

BSG 75 · Dec 19, 2018

F2CMaDMaXX said:
FYI, rust bluing isn't the same as hot bluing, but it's still good

I know. Rust bluing is not just good, it is better (more durable and richer looking) than hot bluing. But it is more labor intensive and slower = more expensive if you are the one paying for the labor. For a firearms manufacturer hot dip bluing is faster and cheaper so that's why they use it, not because it is better. High end low production firearms were and are rust blued.

Essentially, rust bluing uses an acid solution to rust the steel in a controlled environment. Boiling the rust converts the red oxide to black oxide which constitutes the metal finish. The excess rust is removed and the process is repeated until the desired finish is required. This is a traditional process that is still used on high-dollar custom rifles and shotguns.
Rust Bluing: Can You Do it At Home?