Slow rust blacking

[Peter Dunkley]

colin malloy still does it . RichardH on here does them too . http://www.airgunbbs.com/member.php?71303-RichardH

use his email.

Thanks I will contact both. I thought Colin only did the hot caustic process.

[bighit]

Thanks I will contact both. I thought Colin only did the hot caustic process.

im not sure on their process . i was interrupted while typing my reply and you had then replied before i did .

i know richard has done shotgun barrels before though.

[Peter Dunkley]

im not sure on their process . i was interrupted while typing my reply and you had then replied before i did .

i know richard has done shotgun barrels before though.

Possibly. some are brazed.

[RichardH]

Shotgun barrels can be rust blacked or caustic depending on the construction.

If you are rust blueing yourself (or browning the process is almost the same) the actual solution you use isn't that critical a plain salt solution will give a perfectly acceptable brown/black the important bits are the preparation beforehand and how you do the final finish at the end.

The rusting is just that.

Drop me a line if you get stuck.

[Peter Dunkley]

Shotgun barrels can be rust blacked or caustic depending on the construction.

If you are rust blueing yourself (or browning the process is almost the same) the actual solution you use isn't that critical a plain salt solution will give a perfectly acceptable brown/black the important bits are the preparation beforehand and how you do the final finish at the end.

The rusting is just that.

Drop me a line if you get stuck.

Thanks. What you are saying is that all the hype on the US channels about which Nitric solution is best "is all smoke".

[MTA123]

a comprehensive recipe book, https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=...angier&f=false

[thisisdonald]

I think the solution you are talking about is a mixture 50/50 nitric/hydrochloric and you dissolve black iron nails in it until they stop dissolving. You then filter it clean, paint it on and let it rust.
You will get different recipes which will give different results.

Its sounds to me like youre trying to find 'the best' recipe to fast track to bluing your barrels. In my opinion you should get some acid and fet bluing a few times before you start on your barrels. Theres more to the process than just the right recipe.

Preperation is the absolute key. But ambient temperature and humidity can gave a huge effect as well. I was doing a barrel once and ibhad one rust day where the humidity must have wentbup or something, but that rust deeply etched my barrel. Only comeback was to completely start again - i didnt and i ended up with a satin sheen blue

[Peter Dunkley]

I think the solution you are talking about is a mixture 50/50 nitric/hydrochloric and you dissolve black iron nails in it until they stop dissolving. You then filter it clean, paint it on and let it rust.
You will get different recipes which will give different results.

Its sounds to me like youre trying to find 'the best' recipe to fast track to bluing your barrels. In my opinion you should get some acid and fet bluing a few times before you start on your barrels. Theres more to the process than just the right recipe.

Preperation is the absolute key. But ambient temperature and humidity can gave a huge effect as well. I was doing a barrel once and ibhad one rust day where the humidity must have wentbup or something, but that rust deeply etched my barrel. Only comeback was to completely start again - i didnt and i ended up with a satin sheen blue

Partly true. I read that there are pitfalls and all I want to do is cut down the variables, so a tried and tested solution formula takes out one variable. it seems from your very helpful replies that there is not one. Not without Nitric.

[RichardH]

Thanks. What you are saying is that all the hype on the US channels about which Nitric solution is best "is all smoke".

Pretty much.

There isn't a magic answer or miracle potion, Donald's below would work but use iron filings rather than nails, newer nails aren't pure iron.

I've done hundreds with Ammonium Chloride, Mercury Chloride which has a host of risks and various combinations of salts and acids, Angiers book will give you hundreds of brews that will all work but its a long slow process I've just finished an 1892 Winchester rifle with 28 passes and that looks lovely now.

Hot caustic blacking is a 30 minute process once the preps done, rust blacking is at least 12 hours over 10 days..... rust blacking does look nicer on older guns and is more resilient but a lot more work.