Slow rust bluing. Steam method.

[Oswaldo87]

I’ve been doing slow rust bluing for close to 10 years now on my own project guns and those of some family and friends. Back in Louisiana I used to take commissions from my uncle’s gun shop. I started with a borrowed bluing basin that someone had welded up and a home made pipe burner. It used lots of distilled water and propane. I bought my own tank soon after and had a stand built for it. Never got the pipe burner efficient enough but it still worked well.
I eventually stumbled upon the steam method on YouTube and haven’t turned back. No need for distilled water, working outside, or propane. Now I can do all my bluing in the basement on a hot plate. I built my steam stack for about $20 from Home Depot and an old pot.
If I’m also doing the small parts I’ll use distilled water in the bottom of the pot with the parts and use the steam for the barrel.

 

[brianns]

Do you have pictures of your work?

 

[trickg]

I've been curious about rust bluing - I have an old Colt 1911 that has seen better days and isn't particularly collectible thanks to some meathead grinding off the "United States Property" engraving on the right side of the frame. I've given thought to rust bluing it back to its original glory, but I'm just enough scared of screwing it up that I won't do it.

It looks like you've got a pretty solid setup there. I'm also curious to see some pics of your work.

 

[tjiann]

Following this thread. I've been acquiring a few old milsurps. Yesterday I disassembled a 41 Carcano carbine I picked up. Did an initial cleaning, cleaned the bolt parts in an US cleaner, then boiled all the metal parts for 30 minutes. Then lathered them in CLP and wiped down with .004 steel wool. Came out really nice. No remaining rust. Going to clean up some of the grime on stock today, then reassemble.

 

[Doco Overboard]

Nice rig,
Whats your method for carding the rust?

 

[Oswaldo87]

I use fine steal wool for hard to reach parts and a fine SS carding wheel from brownells on a hand drill. It’s seen better days but still does what is needed.

 

[Doco Overboard]

Carding wheels are worth getting the most out of them I agree.
Someone offers one with a different mandrel arrangement that's not usually as expensive but i suspect it could be fiddly arranging it for use.
But, once its worked out shouldn't be a problem.
Mark Novak, in his you tube series has a bit on rust bluing cabinet method that's pretty good.
There may be a another video that accompanies it too.

 

[lazarus]

I've been wanting to give this a try. I have a Cz82 that's epoxy paint has seen better days. It is about getting up the courage to disassemble it completely (with the goal of being able to reassemble it without spare parts...) and then of course the elbow grease to actually get all of the paint off of it.

 

[willtill]

I have two Enfields that I've taken down to the bare metal, years ago. Been wanting to blue them. I'd like to see results of this slow rust bluing. Oswaldo87, can you provide a link to that YouTube video? Is this it:

 

[Oswaldo87]

Yes that’s the video series that got me converted to the steam method.
These are some pics of one I worked on. Classic left in a fabric gun sleeve in the closet. Had to sand and file a lot to get rid of the pits.

 

[Oswaldo87]

A Stevens that had lots of rust freckles.

 

[tjiann]

Those look great!

 

[4g64loser]

Great looking blue work. Maybe it's just me, but I think rust blue has more depth and character to it than hot dip.

 

[trickg]

Great looking blue work. Maybe it's just me, but I think rust blue has more depth and character to it than hot dip.

It's more durable too based on what I've read. If you get any high-end double rifle or shotgun, it's going to be rust blued - that's just how they do it.

 

[Oswaldo87]

It was the original bluing since items were soldered or brazen on. The hot dip salts would compromise the solder joints and destroy the gun. I have an old Mossberg 151K in the process now. Coming out real nice.
I wish I could turn this into a side gig but Maryland is too regulated.

 

[4g64loser]

It was the original bluing since items were soldered or brazen on. The hot dip salts would compromise the solder joints and destroy the gun. I have an old Mossberg 151K in the process now. Coming out real nice.
I wish I could turn this into a side gig but Maryland is too regulated.

It is a shame. I have a friend who is a gunsmith in PA and does great rust blue work. A lot of restoration work and some of his custom hunting rifles. Maybe incorporate an llc in PA? The real problem is needing an 07 license to hold the firearms.

 

[Oswaldo87]

I don’t have a full understanding of having a “gunsmith” business in MD but it seems like a store front would be required. Too much for me to worry about with an already full time job.

 

[Melnic]

I have always found this interesting. At one point I started to think about doing it myself after building my first Muzzle loader from a kit. I changed my mind so I'll just have to follow what you work on

 

[Oswaldo87]

A before and after of some recent work for another member here.