Gunsmith question (blackening)

I just ordered 16 oz of Oxpho after reading no hazmat charge. Years back, I remember buying some and getting slammed with a hazmat charge which made my eyes water.

Every RGG gatling gun I've seen has been in the white. Not mine :)

Wes

-- "Additionally as a security officer, I carry a gun to protect government officials but my life isn't worth protecting at home in their eyes." Dick Anthony Heller

I've used Oxpho Blue for touch ups and to do whole guns. You get deeper color with repeated applications, starting with a light blue and you can get to real black. Best to get down to bare metal first, but it claims it will also penetrate and remove light rust. OK for a fairly durable finish and good appearance, but not like a professional reblue.

Not OK for anything with collector value.

David

Oxpho blue can do that with repeated applications.

"Bluing" is the name of a process, not the result of that process.

David

On Sat, 08 May 2010 22:52:42 -0500, Don Foreman wrote the following:

That's "black", Don?!? Also, most commercial black oxide I've seen (on screws and bolts) is matte, often with oil added.

I used Birchwood-Casey's Perma Blue on my ancient Winchester .22, but it seemed to almost wipe right off. It didn't last on the sear but a minute. The Winchester is "browned", my favorite shade of gunmetal.

Later I ordered some Manganese Phosphate Parkerizing Solution from Midway, but I haven't gotten around to trying it yet.

-- The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest her or his patients in the care of the human frame, in a proper diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease. -- Thomas A. Edison

Ayup. They have had em for a few years.

Ive got hummm...about a gallon or two of black oxide liquid that came out of a shop I shut down a year or so ago, so Ive not done much "bluing" lately...

Gunner

The sear is case hardened. Its not surprising it didnt take bluing.

Gunner

The black oxide I see on many machine details is very black.

Iggy used blackening in his subject line but most of us think of firearms and bluing. Why we call it bluing if it tends to be black escapes me.

Most firearms I've seen tend to be mostly black but some have had hints of blue.

There is an example of a Colt Python that often has positive comments on its finish as it tends to have a strong blue cast.

I know that nickel steel receivers on 1894 Winchesters tend to come out purple.

Is the color a function of the steel alloy?

Wes

-- "Additionally as a security officer, I carry a gun to protect government officials but my life isn't worth protecting at home in their eyes." Dick Anthony Heller

I have already responded but do not see my post. Here is a copy:

I use Birchwood-Casey:

I like the paste for large surfaces as it is less blotchy. It is definitely more black than blue. Something like this:

bluing. Why

An old form of blueing predating salt baths (rust blueing) supposedly gave a blue tint. Salt blueing yields black. Unless you let the temp get 5-10 deg above 295 F, then you get a purple cast.

Pete Keillor