|
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,082
Campfire Tracker
|
OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,082 |
Has anybody done it? Ive been trying but the rust wont convert to black no matter how long I boil it. Ive given it about 30 cycles, and its only a light grey. Briwnells says just keep going, its their formula im using but its a couple of years old. I called anther comany tday that makes rust bluing solution and he told me Rugers dont rust blue because they are cast.
Im using distilled water to boil.
Stupidity is expensive If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,278
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,278 |
Have not tried to rust blue Rugers but have blued many with conventional hot blue. The older ones re particularly hard to get a deep black color.Normally blue at 280f and with the older cast receivers typically 300-310. It's a fine line. Not hot enough and you will get a dull black/gray too hot you will get a rust red film that can only be buffed off. Essentially start over. Rugers can be a PIA.
Lefty C
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,313
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,313 |
That high nickel content 8620 steel is hard to blue and make dark. Even then it will start to turn plumb color in time. Even factory bluing will start to turn plumb over time. I will bet the cylinder and barrel will rust blue normally since they are not cast.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 621
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 621 |
I rust blued a Ruger #1 with Laurel Mountain Forge Barrel Brown and Degreaser. The receiver did not color nearly as well as the barrel. It remained grayish-black while the barrel and lever came out a nice blue-black. Since the lever is also cast, I don't think investment casting has any effect on bluing. However, the steel alloy certainly does.
I did have a New Mod. Blackhawk charcoal blued and the frame came out a very nice dark blue-black, essentially matching the cylinder and barrel. So, there is a way to get a good blue besides ordinary hot salts bluing.
RAN
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,082
Campfire Tracker
|
OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,082 |
Neither the barrel nor the cylinder converted well. Im wondering if the brownells solution has gone bad? Does the solution matter or is rust rust?
Stupidity is expensive If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 621
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 621 |
The solution composition makes a difference according to what I have read. The experts also say the the heat-treatment condition of the metal makes a difference. I agree with that. In my experience, the modern alloy steels like 4140 are difficult to rust blue. The straight carbon steels in old guns usually rust blue nicely unless they have been previously case hardened. If you don't get a good blue in 6 rusting cycles, you are wasting your time
I doubt the solutions go bad with age since they are usually nothing but dilute acid and water. I have always used the Laurel Mtn. solution since it contains a detergent, making it much easier to use. There is no need to have perfectly clean metal when applying the solution or when carding. What I mean is, fingerprints are no problem. This allows bare-handing the parts with no worries about spotting the finish.
RAN
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,082
Campfire Tracker
|
OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,082 |
I'm bummed I won't get the rust blued finish I wanted. I have all the equipment already so I guess I'll go to my fallback position and cerakote it. I just need to get the "paint". What does the graphite black look like?
Stupidity is expensive If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 13,004
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 13,004 |
I'd guess the investment casting is the culprit. The rust bluing I've done on Mausers always come out great.
I am the way, the truth, and the life: no one comes to the Father but by me. John 14:6
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,676
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,676 |
Back long ago I got guns blued at Cleveland Black Oxide and on the shelf were very thick books with every gun ever made and a formula for the salts needed for each steel. Rust blue a Ruger???
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 621
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 621 |
I'd guess the investment casting is the culprit. The rust bluing I've done on Mausers always come out great. Mausers rust blue nicely because they are made from plain carbon steel with none of the chrome, nickel, or moly used in more modern hi-tensile alloys like 4140 or 4340. RAN
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,082
Campfire Tracker
|
OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,082 |
Stupidity is expensive If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,082
Campfire Tracker
|
OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,082 |
Last edited by Snake River Marksman; 07/19/16.
Stupidity is expensive If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck!
|
|
|
|
625 members (160user, 12344mag, 1234, 1beaver_shooter, 163bc, 06hunter59, 56 invisible),
2,513
guests, and
1,241
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,190,635
Posts18,455,246
Members73,908
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|