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

I have done it once for touching up the crown of a relined Ballard that had gone to plumb brown. It was a good way to control the process and blend the finish to match the original patina.

Michael,
If you want to do barrels, you don't need much. The internet stories about needs for stainless tanks and all are really just that - stories.

I do all my barrels in a 40" section of rain gutter. Two caps screwed on each end, sealed with silicone and a campstove or two is all it takes.

Local water (rural water system, i.e., city water) works okay usually. But a few gallons of RO water is cheap.

I am not the greatest craftsman by any stretch but one thing I do feel I do well is rust bluing barrels - so I think anyone that his half as handy as you are, can do it with ease.

As a matter of fact, I have one to do this week. My .22 low wall has the Jim Klusken's most excellent matting carved on its top flat now and it will be reblued in a few days.

Brent

I wonder if warming up the surrounding steel would prevent the condensation Steve spoke of?

I have a Mauser mod. 66S with .30-06 and .243 barrels that is in almost new condition other than the fact that the receiver bluing has turned a bit purple. I understand this is due to high nickel content in the steel. Anyone know if this is reversible without stripping and rebluing?

I may have to get setup and do my barrels. There are many folks that can do the work but a lot of shipping and insurance involved to get the job done.

We have a place near by that makes distilled water and I use that for for the rust bluing I do, nothing longer than an action.

I may have misunderstood the original post. I thought you were wanting to try using stream to convert the rust on a small repaired area when you did not want to do the complete part. Is there any way to rust blue a small area and get it to blend with the old finish when you do not want to alter the original finish on the balance of the gun.

John

Michael

You can use steam, and I have, but as Steven pointed out it has issues.

I've been using a black iron bluing tank for years, the type Brownells sells. So far it's lasted 8+ years.

Rust bluing is easy to touch up, as you can rust blue over many finishes..old rust blue, caustic blue etc. But, one issue you will find when doing rust bluing is the underlying polish.. Something cause that spot to get worn, minor rusting, holster/scabbard/hand wear, bump, scratch etc. It�s quite difficult to get that spot to match exactly; even when rust blued, because the difference between the damaged area and the original polish lines.

Generally you need to polish that area out, and feather the polish lines into the original polish lines. I do this quite often on barrels that have been rebored...Polishing off the old caliber marks, then restamp with the new marks...then a touch-up polish & rust blue.


V/R

Mike

John,

I have blued over screw hole repairs before and I just degrease everything as if to reblue the whole project, then apply the acid only to the repair area. When you boil it won't affect the other areas at all - only where the new rust is. It works great and if the old blue has some wear to it, you just stop before you get to completely black.

Bryndon

Thanks for the info, very helpful.

Bryndon, The 514 is coming along good, I think. On the 5th cycle right now. Still a light gray color on most parts. The softer stuff like the trigger guard are pretty close. I am afraid I might have left a few parts rust to long and developed a little pitting. I have been putting them in the dungeon to rust. It is very damp, but cool. Might be to damp. Otherwise, it is looking good.

I will say this. These guys that advertise rust bluing a entire rifle for $300-$500 are working damn cheap.

John

You did not misunderstand anything, I still plan to build or buy something for making a small and safe hot steam wand. So many projects and only 24 hours in a day ;-).

Mike check at Walmart, they have some steam pots that are very reasonable. The one I have has a hose arrangement that I use for steaming stock dents.