doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Barrel browning question

I thought I'd try my hand at browning a set of 3 iron damascus barrels using Mark Lee's browning solution, as I'd heard that people have had good results with it. They look nice, but are an orangy-plum color that obviously isn't anywhere near accurate. I tried running them under hot tap water after applying the solution to warmed barrels per the instructions, but that didn't turn them dark brown. Would boiling them do the trick, or is that solution just not going to work? I'll send them off to have done if I have to, but I was hoping to see if I could do it myself first. I'm a novice at this, and I understand this isn't the preferred method, I was just hoping it might work.

Thanks

I had a similar result on my first browning attempt on a gun for my Father. (Cannot remember whose browning solution I used) I got a coppery orange color. I wanted it right so I took it back to white metal and shipped it to Keith Kearcher who did an outstanding job and in in a short turn around time as I had about 90% plus of the prep work done when he got it.

I use the MaRK LEE SOLN FOR BROWNS AND HAVE GOOD SUCCESS. AFTER DEGREASING AGAIN,IF YOU ARE TRYING TO GET BROWNS, TAKE A PROPANE TORCH AND HEAT THE BARRELS SLIGHTLY, THIS WILL ACCELRATE THE FERRIC ION BEING PRODUCED FOR A NICER BROWN. BOILING FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES IT WILL GIVE YOU A BLUE BLACK COLOR. ADDING A HANDFUL OF LOGWOOD CHIPS AND 1/4 CUP COPPER SULFATE TO YOUR BOILING TANK WILL GIVE A NICER BLACK.

Another thing that can give bad color in rust bluing is the water itself. I am in the country & could not get good results using my sprin water. Had to get the cheap distilled water like they sell for steam irons etc, then got good results. I alwayys boiled them in a tank for blacking.
I did once blue a knife blade for a friend once on which he didn't want to remove the handle by holding the blade in front of the spout of a tea kettle heated to a good roiling boil. Turned out real good, but would take more steam to do a set of bbls. Back when Gov' Armories still did rust bluing a steam room was commonly employed for the blackening step.

Miller is right about the water. I am in the Hill Country with a high level of Ca, mg etc and had to switch to rainwater and distilled water for the boiling

Thanks for the replies guys. I guess I'll give boiling a try and see what happens. I do have a tank at least. Nothing ventured nothing gained!

Be sure and scrub it well with detergent etc and hot water to get any oil off. You can e mail me direct at
l.stallones@CENTURYTEL.NET IF ANY QUESTIONS

Thank you! e-mail on its way with another quick question.