bluing steel with a torch

That said, heres the truth: The best blueing you can have on a gun is simple, safe to do, but takes a long time. Just let any residual matter evaporate/dry. Bluing is a process usually used by gun owners and firearms manufacturers to improve the aesthetic value of their weapons. 2. Steel After Dont pour water in to your bath! I found through my bluing adventure that different oils do act slighty different but ultimately everything I've used has done the job. "name": "Shooting Mystery", Dont drop or try to bend the steel once its removed. Your tanks better be tight, your stands for the tanks better be rigid, youd better have top-of-the-line fire extinguishers (NB the plural) available to you. Youll need some shop rolls, ranging from 180 to 400 grit (typical 4-packs are 180, 240, 320 and 400 grit, in 1, 1.5 or 2. Turn the heat on and give a good regular stirring until it gets very hot and starts to steam. If you need to use a blow torch, focus the flame tip on the area you want hardened. I don't understand why you are submerging it in oil? So you said the polishing is key for the coloring process. Salts. Brownells has a product that will strip blueing and rust (Fe3O4 and Fe3O2, respectively) and not corrode the underlying steel.Remove the barrel & action from the stock. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. The mixture is heated to 310 to 321C (590 to 610F) and the parts are suspended in this solution with wire. You MUST plug your barrels, gas cylinders, remove your pistons, etc. After spending most of his career as a firearms expert and enthusiast, he retreated to the great outdoors to raise his family in peace and quiet. If your barrel has heavier pitting, now were into filing to remove pitting, and thats something I cant teach people in mere text. "datePublished": "2022-03-27", Fill a heat-safe container with water or oil deep enough to submerge your steel. *Potassium Nitrate is an oxidizer. "sameAs": I am using bronze, is it for a polish? Ships from and sold by Direct-Wholesale. You wouldnt need salts. WebThe gun bluing process Start with 1 gallon of water and add it to a deep fryer that has been thoroughly cleaned. Bluing is a passivation process in which steel is partially protected against rust using a black oxide coating. Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter. 3D Printed Futuristic Space Age Wall Clock. Though it may seem tricky at first, youll be glad to have figured it out because knowing how to blue stainless steel will come in handy from time to time. (Its Crystalline Potassium Nitrate 100%) $6.18 While I am certain that I could do it myself, you already have all the bits and parts and stuff so it is worth my dollars to buy a gunsmiths time to have this done for me. Can a softly tempered piece be re-tempered harder without going through the hardening procedure again? http://cdn.spectrumbrands.com/~/media/Spectracide/Files/MSDS/SpectracideStumpRemoverGranulesSDSApr15.ashx. I plan on doing this on a couple of older beaters first. Ive dealt with strong acids and strong bases in lab work, and I fear the strong bases more. I tried heating the barrel in sections (as Brownells says is ok) but did not get a very good result, being unable to get a uniform heat in any =thing approaching more than a few inches at a time. Itll take perhaps 20 minutes to really dry down. I thought there was something that could help improve the colors but wasnt sure until I came across this. You can get a IR non-contact thermometer for less than $20 at Harbor Freight. I didnt drop outta my mommas womb being able to do this stuff. Quenching the steel rapidly cools it so the alloys inside harden together. Keep posting like this. I wouldnt use this bluing method for these items. You work on nice guns! This process leaves a deep blue-black finish. Further, I probably would have used a coarser wet-dry to prep the raw steel (this was a kit Kentucky long rifle) rather than the 1500 grit I used. I used Express Blue #1 on lots of guns, where I want something less labor intensive than slow rust blueing (which I wont describe here): most steel wool isnt oil-free. Not every manufacturer puts bittering agents in the solution and as one poison control nurse told me: (t)here is nothing you can do and it aint the good death.. DG should receive a stipend for his valuable contributions to TTAG. However, oil may spill and create a fire hazard if the steel is put into the oil too quickly. Youre just using stump remover to do it. Not only does it give you an alchemical feeling of satisfactionbut it also gives the metal a finish to stop corrosion. I wouldn't recommend either. What I forgot to mention in all of this is a detail that seems mundane, but it critically important: Wear cotton gloves. After three coats, washing and drying, the finish was not too bad, considering I was (and am) a rank amateur. Your container should be relatively larger than your object. Heating it again to a lower temperature will not introduce additional martensite. Examples of this finish are common on older pocket watches whose hands exhibit what is called 'peacock blue', a rich iridescent blue. I really appreciate you taking the time to share it DG. This article has been viewed 914,567 times. When youre using polishing paper, you think that 600 grit is very fine, and it is taking you hours to polish out something to 600. Various processes are used for the oxidizing process. Once you strip the blue & rust, then you can see what youre dealing with. Please be careful with the cold bluing solutions. Bluing involves an electrochemical conversion coating resulting from an oxidizing chemical reaction with iron on the surface selectively forming magnetite (Fe3O4), the black oxide of iron. This is an alternative method for creating the black oxide coating. List Price: $18.64 $18.64. Then you have to heat the metal. Heat the area you'd like to drill just until it starts to glow red, then allow it to cool slowly. OK, now with the sights out and the trigger group off, you can put on the rust/blue remover on the barrel/action. This process was repeated until the desired depth of color was achieved or the metal simply did not color further. I learned something slightly different than what you are teaching and that is I am willing to pay people like you to do this kind of stuff for me. Is the torch used to heat metal ..ONLY.with Cold bluing? "keywords": ["how to blue stainless steel"], If you are referring to torch bluing, the Try it on some unimportant pieces first. Once you see it turn golden, the process has started and colours will change fairly quickly! The steel was mild steel and had very little carbon content. Robert Farago is the former publisher of The Truth About Guns (TTAG). If everything appears good, then you can transfer the components into a hot water tank. -An old container filled with your chosen degreaser (unleaded petrol), -Your desired polished metal object/s (very important! OK, Buffing wheels, which Im making their own break-out response from the blueing salt issue: Buffing wheels are useful things in a gun shop. Think big scars. I agree used oil works better and adding some copper and graphite seems to deepen the color and add more purple or plum to it. Then, you can put the components back into the bluing tank and increase the temperature until you see the blued steel. Keep a fire extinguisher near your workstation in case of a fire. Work on a metal or steel surface, such as an anvil, to avoid any fire hazards. How do I harden a steel hammer so that is lasts longer and is more durable? Bluing (steel) - Wikipedia Use a smaller toaster oven if your piece of steel fits inside. My apologies for the background noise in the first half of the video We had compressors running where I had to shoot this This video shows how to blue steel parts using an oven or torch and quenching in oil This method is not the professional method using bluing salts but can be done in your home with a torch or if you have access to a high temperature oven This method will provide your parts some protection from corrosion and show how to achieve different colors in the steel by varying temperatures I am not a professional so please spare me the that s not hot bluing and other criticisms If you don t like it turn it off Hope this comes in handy for someone, How to take apart disassemble and put together assemble a 1911 pistol 1st method, Stevens 20 Gauge Break Action Shotgun Project - Part 4 Cold Bluing with Brownells Oxpho-Blue Creme, Van's Instant Gun Bluing - Removing Gun Rust, Cold bluing Steel blackening How to use Tifoo Black Devil - burnishing steel, Gun Bluing - Colt Official Police 38 Special, Vintage Screwdriver Cold Bluing Br nierung Restore No 2, Slow rust bluing O1 knife blades part two, Easy and Fast bluing touch up Presto Gun Blue Pen, DuraBlue Spray-on Bluing Aerosol Application Process Polished Version, Axe Restoration Part Two Bluing With Birchwood Casey Superblue, Birchwood Casey Aluminum Black Super Blue and Metal Work on a Tanfoglio TA22S, Gun Bluing using cold blue and heat Weihrauch HW35 E Restoration, Perma Blue Gun Blue Paste Birchwood Casey. This will keep the bluing from adhering to the sharpened edge. 1. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Think big scars. You can then use a soft brush to gently remove all the residue of the cleaning solution on the components. Spilling salts at this temperature will instantly result in fire, because the KNO3 is a powerful oxidizer all on its own, and the added thermal energy will light anything on fire all alone. Not blessed with a climate controlled safe. Below is a link to a video I found on YouTube that shows the process. I rarely use them. Blue or Black rust is complete passivation of the steel surface Fe3O4. Youll have a hot caustic degreaser tank (about 10 minutes), then a cold rinse tank, then into the hot salts for, oh, 15 to 20 minutes, then out into the hot rinse, then into a cold running rinse tank, then into a water displacing oil tank for 20 minutes or so. Whats the difference between Brown Express and Blue Express? Degrease a pad of 0000 steel wool with acetone. Reply The differing rate of cooling for each area produced a different color creating that rainbow effect. The loose oxide was then carded (scrubbed) off, using a carding brush - a wire brush with soft, thin (usually about 0.002in (0.051mm) thick) wires - or wheel. Historically, razor blades were often blued steel. JUST DONT. Note: I know a plastic container is pictured but always use a metal one! Quenched steel is harder, but it becomes more brittle. If the sights need to be stripped & blued, follow the same procedure, but dont polish on them. They should send you a stipend for your time. Then the crucibles would be removed from the furnace and placed over boiling hot water and air would be bubbled through the water and the parts would be dropped into the water. I have always wondered about storage in gun soft cases or the foamed Hard cases, and humid or dry, heat and cold. Bluing Stainless Steel: What You Can and Cant Do - Forging World Any more advice is welcome SteelJunkee Joined May 6, 2018 Messages 891 Dont. References Torch DG thank you. Being prepared is important if you can not measure the temp. Mix equal parts of cream and liquid Brownells Oxpho Blue. Make sure to check every nook and cranny of the components so that you can find any discoloration or blemishes. For hazzalandy: carbon content has nothing to do with the color process, it is only the temperature you heat to, and to a lesser extent, the time spent hot. Free shipping. Hopefully these concepts suggest caution and diligence for what you are doing. So unless you have sufficient equipment and skill, its advised to let a professional perform the bluing for you. You then oil or wax over the finish when youre done. I can then get the temp to be 600F spot-on in a lead melting pot. If there is any finish left on the metal, it will interfere with the bluing pr Heres instructions from Mark Lee Supplies on using their Express Blue #1. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. You have to apply the bluing fluid. To harden steel, start by heating the metal directly with a blow torch until it turns a cherry red color. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The plate turned blue just like you ible and I was told this was an effect of compression fitting.the rod didn't change colour even though it had the heat applied to it so was it actually the compression fit that changed the plates colour. "image": { Also, the results you indicate are typical of still having some oil on the gun. You might need two applications to clean up more deeply rusted spots. Modern home hobbyist versions of this process typically use a hydrogen peroxide and salt solution, sometimes with vinegar, for the rusting step to avoid the need for more dangerous acids.[7]. My dad keeps his in a big safe with large desiccant packs that he threw in there. It is also used by machinists, to protect and beautify tools made for their own use. I saw you reference a coleman stove and propane tank for heating solution. "height": "800", With HSS you're looking for 2500-3000rpm, M35 or M42 cobalt bits 3000-3600rpm, and carbide 10k-12krpm. }, Theyll usually go in from the right, and be drifted out from the left (ie, drifting them from left to the right as the muzzle is pointed away from you). Heat the gun parts. Rinse them in a cold water tank after. Youll get a dark spot right there. Blue Bluing Steel You can reassemble the gun after. If you are new to the subject and are in need of detailed instructions, then youve come to the right place. $3.59. Use hemostats to hold a cleaning patch wetted with the solution and apply in nice, long, even strokes. Different colors can be achieved through variations of this method including quenching in oil instead of water. Its much cheaper anyways. Cold blueing is OK for touchups, at best. I wasnt planning on doing it for a few months. There are many simple ways to achieve good bluing. I use it, oh so cautiously in making my biodiesel. I can't stress how important the degreasing step is! "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6dwEQfHK1tk_ZeaA4PniOA/", Make sure the piece is chemically clean, sandblasting followed by power wire brushing is good then stop heating when you hit purple because the heat will travel. Gee, Im thinkin Duro or cero coat maybe even Krylon might be a good enough.. [4], Bluing can also be done in a furnace, for example for a sword or other item traditionally made by a blacksmith or specialist such as a weapon-smith. Heating up a tank on the kitchen stove. You should put the brass drift (which you can make out of a piece of brass rod about 1/4 in diameter) on the sight base, and then start tapping the end of the drift with a small hammer. Hot bluing should never be attempted on aluminium, as it reacts it usually dissolves in the caustic salt bath. Central Texas. In colloquial use, thin coatings of black oxide are often termed 'gun bluing', while heavier coatings are termed 'black oxide'. 1/16-inch pivot wire has a circumference of ~0.2in. When heat treating a forged blade you get the whole knife glowing, then submerge just the blade in the oil for 8 seconds. Get it Feb 25 - 27. The only way to do that is to heat it until the metal de-magnetises, quench it again, and then temper to the desired hardness. I guess Ill have to just be happy drying toilet paper. Alternitavely you can leave it in the oil bath to stabilize. But since this was my first project, with an inexpensive kit as a learning tool, and as I intend to do this again with a much more expensive kit, my trials and errors and your voice of experience will be very useful the next time around. Rinse them in a cold water tank after. (meaning oxygen atoms are able to attach themselves to the outer layer of the steel)We did this with an electromagnet! - Ballachy", "Bluing of Steel by Heat Treatment: Why and How it Happens? just fyi, the old school method of case hardening steel is to get the piece so hot that a magnet will no longet stick to it and quickly quench it in used motor oil. For modern uses of black oxide, see, Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "How To Remove Rust From A Gun Without Damaging Bluing? Check out the video:https://hackaday.io/project/21947-makers-vise/log/60914-coloring-steel-with-magnetism. All those materials the leather and bone the coal where sources of carbon and other trace elements. WD-40, as mentioned earlier, is a water-displacing oil compound not a penetrating lube, and for preventing rust, WD-40 actually works pretty well, but it doesnt last like cosmoline or waxy oils used for long-term rust prevention. Wear thick gloves so you dont burn yourself. Answer How to Blue/Re-Blue a Gun - The Truth About Guns You can then u. se a soft brush to gently remove all the residue of the cleaning solution on the components. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 13 in 1 Metal Shell Welding Torch Nozzle Tip Cleaner For Welder Soldering at the best online prices at eBay! No one can even tell you what the heat treat is on a 1895 Mauser for instance yet we do not wet ourselves before we shoot one! Also remember, by adjusting the heat you can get whatever color you want. Just dont. It had been thoroughly degreased before my first attempt, but in trying to repair a poor result, I apparently contaminated it a bit. It is hazardous. *700F is very close to the heat treatment temperature of some steels. Thanks, 8 years ago You can blue heat-treated parts with no ill effects. Holy crap, did that reaction hurt like hell. If you tempered the steel with a blow torch, set the metal on an anvil or another large steel surface to conduct the heat. Water is great for rapidly quenching the hot metal, but it could cause thin steel to distort or crack. He started the site to explore the ethics, morality, business, politics, culture, technology, practice, strategy, dangers and fun of guns. In literally 10 seconds on a buffing wheel incorrectly applied, I could screw that up to a point where it might take be eight+ hours of hand polishing to recover my prior results. Theres a reason why I buy up clapped-out guns and stuff where people look at me with a WTF?! The mixed fumes of the acids produce a uniform rust on the surface of the parts (inside and out) in about 12 hours. LOGIX 20910 Butane Torch, Cooking Torch, Torch for Creme Brulee, Refillable, 9.6 oz, Blue Steel . A couple bottles of aged bourbon minimum. I wish I had known more about the process, heating (I was working outside on a 60 degree day) I may have to check with my friend to see if it needs reblued again, Im sure he never shot it. While still hot and while wearing rubber gloves rub the bluing compound Into the steel with the steel wool. In the hot salt process, you will need, oh, four to six tanks, only one of which will be the heated blueing salts. Be patient in the first few minutes as the metal needs to reach the temperatures where it changes colour! Depending on the manufacturers manual, youll have to prepare roughly 6 to 8 tanks to perform the bluing effectively and efficiently. Ill go into parkerization later this week. The hotter the steel, the further the oxygen can diffuse through the oxide coating, so the coating builds thicker before it protects the steel from further oxidation. To obtain oil-free steel wool, get some acetone in a container (say, an old, clean yogurt container you were going to throw away anyway). Enjoy! Hang the trigger group again, re-stock and you should be done. Just dont do it. (NaOH from Ebay soap supplies). You turn up your nose at crap guns? fascinated with blacksmithing, but have not had an income to even get it started. "@type": "Organization", It takes practice. 2 years ago, For the record The gentleman said multiple times that the plastic container shown in the pictures was just for the instructional photos and to be sure that the container is made of metal for this process, (Homer Simpson smacking his forehead: "DOH!