Bluing Preparation

[kyew]

I was wondering if anyone else here has ever used white vinegar to prep a firearm for cold bluing. It being an acid, I had the idea that it would function as a deep cleaner, and it has proven to be true.

I first used it for cleaning black powder from muzzle loaders. It works very well for that. For bluing prep, it's a bit slower, taking a few hours of soaking to get through any previous blued finish.

I've not noticed any etching of the steel. I have taken a piece of rusted steel and left it in vinegar overnight with no observable adverse effects. It takes rust off like nobody's business, too.

Has anyone else tried this? Is there something I'm missing - long term undesirable effects? I'm apprehensive about using it on a customer's firearm, but I've used it on my own and have had good results.

Anyone else have any experience with it?

 

[rcmodel]

I have not used it on a firearm.

However I did use it on an old hatchet I restored.

Posts 1, 13, & 36 show the results of white vinegar.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=716765&highlight=hatchet

Don't see any reason it wouldn't work for cold blue prep too.

Just be sure you get all the vinegar washed out of the cracks & crevasses or it will probably promote rust.

rc

 

[AlexanderA]

Vinegar (particularly when heated) does a good job of removing bluing. When I was doing Civil War reenacting, that's what the guys would use to get rid of the bluing on their repro Enfield muskets in order to get that more "authentic" bright look.

If you're doing cold bluing on a gun, I would question the need/wisdom of removing all the existing bluing first. Cold bluing works best as a touchup. You need to do a good job of degreasing, though. 91% alcohol works well for this, and doesn't affect the original bluing.

 

[kyew]

I have not used it on a firearm.

However I did use it on an old hatchet I restored.

Posts 1, 13, & 36 show the results of white vinegar.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=716765&highlight=hatchet

Don't see any reason it wouldn't work for cold blue prep too.

Just be sure you get all the vinegar washed out of the cracks & crevasses or it will probably promote rust.

rc

I soaked my handgun in it to loosen the rust I couldn't reach with any tool and to get rid of the old finish so it would take the bluing a bit more evenly. I found while it was submerged in the vinegar, it didn't rust at all, but once I took it out and washed the vinegar off, it immediately started rusting. And I mean immediately! Not even five minutes passed and every piece had surface rust on it!

 

[kyew]

Vinegar (particularly when heated) does a good job of removing bluing. When I was doing Civil War reenacting, that's what the guys would use to get rid of the bluing on their repro Enfield muskets in order to get that more "authentic" bright look.

If you're doing cold bluing on a gun, I would question the need/wisdom of removing all the existing bluing first. Cold bluing works best as a touchup. You need to do a good job of degreasing, though. 91% alcohol works well for this, and doesn't affect the original bluing.

Most of the time I don't bother taking the old finish off, but I was using Dicropan DM (sp?) and it's pretty finicky. I just wanted a nice, even coating of blackening. And, yes, I always degrease thoroughly before applying the finish.

I hadn't thought about heating it though. That makes sense that it would work better. Heating also makes the bluing take better on some metals. Soak it in hot water or use a hair drier.