Bluing

[RonS]

This might sound a little crazy but here goes. I would like to have the bluing removed from the action of my Rem 788 and then polished to a brillant shine. Is this possible, if so, is it costly? Is the bluing removed with chemicals or sanding?

 

[jscandale]

By the process of polishing the action, the bluing will be removed. You can easily do this with a bench buffing wheel. If you do, be sure to try some scraps first as a buffing wheel can very easily throw the material right out your hands if it gets traction on the work piece.
To get the rest of the areas that a buffer can't get to, a chemical treatment will remove by corroding a microscopic amount of the blued surface away.

JS

 

[okedoke]

8)shooter, go to your local drug store & buy some navel jelly & a small brush then strip the gun down as far as you can. Go to your kitchen sink & brush on the navel jelly to all the blued parts & before you can rinse with warm water most of the blue will be gone, have an old tooth brush or #0000 steel wool to cover some of the oxidized areas. After the blue is removed , blow dry the parts to remove the water & now you are ready to start polishing the metal..------ Take care Craig

 

[RonS]

Hey guys, thanks for the replies. I will pick up some naval jelly and try a spot on the underside of the action first. I don't have a bench buffing wheel nor do I know anyone who does. The gunsmiths in this area don't have the time or just don't want to bothered, not quit sure. Also when I do my rebuild on this action I would like to convert it to a single shot. Any thoughts as to how?

 

[Preacher]

Converting to a SS calls for a block built and placed in the receiver...

 

[okedoke]

shootr, on my first rifle i stripped the blue & then proceeded to file & sand from 320#-- 1200# grit wet & dry paper, then my dads friend told me to get some chrome polish & come on down to his body-shop. He took a hand buffer along with the polish & made that action & barrel shine like a new nickle. good luck with your project---- Craig

 

[RonS]

Preacher, can you elaborate just a little bit more info, I'm a bit green with these things. I was also told that vinegar would take to bluing off as well. When sanding do I sand perpendicular to the action or length wise?

 

[Preacher]

They have single shot followers to buy, or they can be made. It's just a piece of Aluminum that is fit the the space where the follower comes through...
It's best to (I hate to use the word sand) use as fine a paper as you can find, think 320 or finer garnet paper, and go in different directions for each time when your doing it for the best results.. Take the previous marks off and then go the opposite way till those marks are off, then do it some more till it looks really nice to you...

 

[RonS]

Okedoke, I tried the naval jelly on the bolt and it worked. After rinsing the metal it turned a dull grey, so with some elbow grease and a little Flitz it polished out to a half decent shine. Next I will do the outside of the action. How would you tackle the inside of the action? Or do you think I should bother? I don't have a way to get the barrel off the action, except to ship or take it to a gunsmith.

 

[okedoke]

shootr, glad to hear that the bolt handle worked out OK, be sure to mask off the barrel & other parts that should remain blue. As for the inside of the action, i always use wood dowells & small blocks of plastic, steel or wood wrapped with # 400 wet & dry sanding paper just to get rid of that grey & in the process smooth up the action and if you want to take the time you can use the end of a take-down shot gun rod with a 10 ga. wool mop & a cordless drill-- a little compound or flitz to polish the inside. Don't forget to protect the polished portions of your rifle. take care Craig

 

[RonS]

I'm not worried about the barrel because this is a donor gun. I'm converting it into a 6BR. I just wanted to give the 788 a new look. Thanks for all your help.

Ron

 

[X-RingCustomGunsmithing]

Just curious what are you re-bluing it with when your done. Beware of rusting while it is in the white.