Doug, The flames where comes up the sides and you are most likely right in getting a bigger round pot.
The crystals were melting and then the liquid started coming through the film of crystals starting at the sides. I stirred them with that piece of brass filler rod you see on the other burner. I did this until the whole thing turned liquid.
The color as described in another post was dark, it lightened up also as described in that post.
The water quenching seemed to be better as it took that film of solitified liquid off. The oil quenching left the film on and to get it off I lightly heated the parts with a propane torch and then ran them under water. The stuff came off easily with a scrub brush. Polshed with a rag.
Why do you think the trigger guard came out blotchy? Maybe because it was on it's side resting on the bottom of the pan.?
I think the screws came out decent, more black than bluish.
Also do they all have a matte finish when removed from the bluing solution?
