doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Rust Blueing with Steam?

I’ve been rust blueing parts up to the size of an action but I am not set up to do barrels. Many times I’ve wanted to touch-up rust blue and wondering if I make a small steam pot with a hose and nozzle if I can heat the area enough to turn it black. Has anyone tried this or know of someone who has?

Michael:

It seems I read about one of the big gun companies using steam instead of boiling. Can't remember where though, unless in was Angier.

Your idea of touch up bluing might just work, but I would suggest using a mild solution and no humidity box. This would help the intact bluing to resist the effects of the solution.

Give it a go and see what happens.

Glenn

I have on occassion just poured boiling water on a rusted item, including shotgun barrels, to convert brown to black. No reason it shouldn't work on a rifle, you could even pre-heat the barrel. I have a rifle to do and I intend to just pour boiling water on it. Give it a go, whats to loose, use a piece of scrap barrel. I think that's what you are asking, not about the rusting itself. --- John Can.

Thanks for the feedback, I also got about the same advice on the shotgun forum. Seems I only need a new tea kettle and I'll give it a try. Many times I would have liked to retouch a small place on a big part, looks like I can now.

I use a piece of schedule 40 PVC just big enough to hold the barrel,(one end of the PVC capped) and then do as John does. Pour boiling water over the barrel in the PVC tube until full. Then dump out the water and barrel, and it works well to set the blung.
I use smaller containers for other parts and pour boiling water over them also, rather than dropping them into boiling water.

Vall, I have two different sized pots that I can set on my burner that I use for parts and have used them with good results. I want to be able to touch up a small area without removing the barrel from the receiver, Hench my steam question.

Let us know how it works Mike. In my work I repair small steam generators that are used to clean jewelry. I have one in the shop now that the owner decided wasn't worth paying to fix. I may have a go at it if the parts are available. It has a foot switch that releases a jet of steam on a small area and has a good capacity, should last for almost an hour before needing a refill.

[img]http://www.ottofrei.com/store/product_image.php?imageid=1437[/img]

Every time I have introduced steam to rust bluing I've ruined the job because of condensation on the metal, hense I've avoided any steam for many years. I'll look forward to hearing of your experiments.

Michael, did you ever try this? How did you make out?

Thanks,
John

I have had good results using this method to touch up a small area where I have had to do some work. I would not use it for anything but a touch up though.