doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Case coloring - why polish?

Yes. You have to use the right media but it can be done. I think soda blasting might do it.

well. I'll stick to diamond hones and well backed wet-dry paper. I have the technology and ability to use those right now if I need to

Brent

OK by me!

More food for thought....a media blast would take 5-10 minutes to do a receiver, and like all sandblasting works just as well in corners, crevices, and rounded surfaces.

If your gun will be only for display I can see how the case colors hidding engraving detail can upset you. But, if you will use the gun alot on the range and in the field you will get 2 enjoyments from it. First you will enjoy the colors and then as the seasons pass you will be treated to the engraving detail with a hint of color as the colors slowly fade. That's when the true beauty of the art is showcased and you may say that it gets better with age. As an example I would remind you all of some of the Remingtons that Semmer has shown us in the Double Gun Journal and other vintage doubles shown as well.

Here what they say about soda, keep in mind there are different grits:

"What is soda blast? Soda blast is a sodium bicarbonate product. It is a non hazardous, environmentally friendly blasting media that is used to strip graffiti off of walls, clean fragile aluminum parts such as auto parts, or any other delicate surface where damage to underlying structure is a concern. You can even strip paint off an aluminum paint can at 10 psi without damage to the can!


If you must have a diamond media, here it is:

" Resin and Metal bond diamonds are very popular abrasive media for free abrasive lapping and polishing applications, suitable for very tight tolerances and very high surface finish applications. They are also a popular free abrasive media to be used with oil, glycol and water based vehicles for lapping and polishing of various materials such as ceramics, carbides and sapphires, etc.

They also sell media for dermabrasion - human faces - so I think that would not hurt scratchings in metal.

Dig wrote:
I do not like re-coloured guns.

Just a personal opinion but to me they very rarely look right and often look horrible.

If I could figure out how to add pictures to this thread, I would share with everyone a receiver I just had re-case hardened, and it looks wonderful. Sorry Dig.

The "oxide stuff" that forms from heating the metal in a carbon and mineral rich environment and dunking in a mineral rich quench is very thin. If the surface is not polished, it will not form in a way that shows colors well.

Gun's gotta look right. If it's a full blown restoration the colors should be true to the makers original style. Other than that I agree with Dig, let them fade gracefully and save the vivid colors for new guns.

How are those RBL's, flowing out of the factory yet?

Rob

When I sent my Lefever DS to Color case company he requested that it be polished down to 600 grit. He even sent it back to me for further polishing when he didnt think it enough.It causes the Color Case to be more brilliant evidently.