centershot
Silver $$ Contributor
Opinions, please.
Who Makes the Best Cold Bluing?
- Thread starter centershot
- Start date
This is the most informative thing I ever read about cold bluing
Evaluation of several cold bluing products (w/pics) - HuntingNet.com Forums
Gunsmithing Projects & Techniques - Evaluation of several cold bluing products (w/pics) - If you have read any of my restoration threads you know I do a fair amount of cold bluing. Ive gotten a few messages asking about the task and which cold blue is best. The thing is I really dont know how to...
www.huntingnet.com
centershot
Silver $$ Contributor
Great thread! I was surprised that there were no real loosers.
It is impossible to answer your question because it all depends on the steel that the cold bluing solution is applied to. I have used them all over the course of many years and the one that gives the best results over a variety of guns has been Oxpho, but some will work better than Ospho on a particular gun. The most important thing to do in cold bluing is preparing and cleaning the surface to be blued and warming the metal before you apply the bluing solution. Buffing the metal beyond 400 grit generally hurts the bluing process. Acetone is the best cleaner to use in my experience. I use a heat gun to warm the barrel, but your wife's hair dryer will work in a pinch.
centershot
Silver $$ Contributor
I have a hair dryer. Haven't used it in a few years though!
xr650rRider
Silver $$ Contributor
I bought all of these and Perma Blue worked the best on 12L14 and A36 mild steel. It was darkest from first coat and Oxpho and tetra never got as dark as it was from first coat. Heated, not heated, didn't make much difference.
RPSGuns
Silver $$ Contributor
^^^^^^ This. Exactly my experience as well.
I've used BC Super Blue and Oxpho blue and found that heating the part opens the pores and allows the solution to penetrate deeper and last longer.
YMMV.
YMMV.
I read an article sometime ago where the user applied a browning finish first then applied the cold blue solution. He claimed it gave a much deeper finish.
There is another product called Van’s that works pretty well. It’s sold by the same folks that bring you Arrow Wood finish. As others have mentioned, steel, surface prep, etc., may influence your results.
I learned something recently that I found interesting. I made some pivot pins out of bright finish drill shanks for a recent project. I tried Oxpho, Van’s, and Birchwood Casey, and none of them gave the pins even a hint of color.
I learned something recently that I found interesting. I made some pivot pins out of bright finish drill shanks for a recent project. I tried Oxpho, Van’s, and Birchwood Casey, and none of them gave the pins even a hint of color.
Have also used Oxpho Blue with good results on pistols and rifles.
Gun Smith
Gold $$ Contributor
I have tried just about every cold blue made. BC's Super Blue, applied with small pieces of very fine
Scotch Bright pad (white color) worked best for me, also liked Oxpho paste, using the Scotch Bright pad.
Clean with acetone prior to applying. The fine Scotch Bright works much better than steel wool or
cotton balls in my experience.
Scotch Bright pad (white color) worked best for me, also liked Oxpho paste, using the Scotch Bright pad.
Clean with acetone prior to applying. The fine Scotch Bright works much better than steel wool or
cotton balls in my experience.
Upgrades & Donations
This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.