Hot Blueing

[CustomGunworks]

Hello,
I'm just starting out with a small home shop. Doing manely cleaning,stock refinshing and lite repair work. I have a friend that has a marlin bolt action .410 shotgun he'd like me to refinsh.
He'd also like the blueing redone and I don't have the equipment .
So my question is does anyone here do hot blueing or know of anyone that does ? Reasonable ?

Any help would be great !!

 

[Jim K]

Most gunsmith shops used to do hot tank bluing, but gave it up because hazardous materials regulations and OSHA rules are so stringent. The result is that it is now done mostly by specialist companies that are big enough to make the hassle and expensive equipment worth while. Some are listed under "Gunsmith Services" in Shotgun News or other magazines.

You can check at local gun stores and ask where they send their work or if they will handle the job for a fee.

If there are no problems in doing so (zoning, etc.) you can set up and do hot tank bluing. But you need to do the setup right, with proper ventilation, emergency shower, protective clothing, etc. The chemicals are highly caustic and can cause serious injury, even death, if improperly handled. Believe me, it is not a "kitchen table" job, and anyone who tells you otherwise simply does not know what is involved.

There are other, easier methods of finishing, including Parkerizing, rust bluing, and various kinds of what amounts to painting. Brownells sells most of these, so I recommend you start with their catalog. I do not recommend any type of cold blue; in spite of plugs by many folks for this or that product, I have never seen any that is really durable and does a good job. (Yes, I know you used some magic stuff to touch up a scratch, but I have tried about all of them, and stand by what I say.)

Jim

 

[brickeyee]

There are usually a few listings in the back of 'Gun List' for smiths doing bluing.

 

[simmonsguns]

bluing

Hi, i could get it done here for $180.00, that includes disassembly, polishing,bluing and re-assembling and test firing.
PM me for details if you want to. Paul Salchow. Simmons gun repair.

 

[dfariswheel]

About the cheapest place I know of that's reputable is Ron Mahovsky's.

He specializes in hard chrome work and has been in business a long time. He does good quality bluing very reasonably:

http://www.mahovskysmetalife.com/

 

[Jim K]

One tip for a bluing job. It will reduce the cost considerably if you are able to do the disassembly and polishing yourself. Some shops are OK at bluing but do poor polishing. One place had such a bad reputation that its technique was described as "lean harder on the wheel, I can still see some markings." They rounded everything; I think they were trying to invent the "melted" look a few years early.

By doing my own polishing, I not only don't round corners or obliterate markings, but I can control the appearance of the product, whether I want a dull blue, flat black, rust blue look, high gloss, or something else to match an original finish. Then I tell the bluing shop that if they do anything but degrease, I will put the gun in a place where light won't reflect off it.

Jim

 

[CustomGunworks]

Thanks for all the info.
But I've e-mailed http://www.mahovskysmetalife.com/ and I have not heard
back from him. Thats fine i'll wait. His prices look great i'm sure he's busy.
My Question is I'm i scaring anyone from returning my e-mails by asking for a copy of there FFL? I e-mailed a guy I found on auction arms And he returned my e-mail, then I e-mailed him back because I had more questions and Asked for a copy of his FFL and his never replied .
What do you think ?

 

[dfariswheel]

First, Mahovsky seems to have email problems a lot. CALL him, and you'll get a response.

As for the FFL, why do you want a copy?
If you intend to send a gun in for work, you don't need a copy of his FFL, and he doesn't need one from you either.

 

[Jim K]

Hi, dfariswheel,

Technically true, but darn few carrier people understand that, so I recommend having the shop send a signed FFL copy. They should be used to that and it will save everyone a lot of trouble. If the gun is a handgun, it may be easier to ship it through a dealer; the shipping cost will be lower and if on good terms with the dealer the fee may be little or nothing.

Jim

 

[45auto]

That gun must have sentimental value for your friend, because I suspect the cost of blueing will exceed the cost of the gun.

My experiences with cold blues is the same as Jim Keenan, but I'd "recommend" Oxpho cold blue if he doesn't want to spend the money. It does darken the steel(not like hot blue) and, most importantly, it's the easiest to apply...and reapply when it wears off! Tell him to keep his hands on the stock, not the metal...

Someone needs to "invent" a cold, dipping blue that last as long as hot blueing.

 

[Big Az Al]

bluing

I do hot bluing,

Cost $60 not including shipping.

I prefer to do shipping to and from another FFL, for paper work and paper trail reasons.

I prefer to also take in guns fully assambled so that I can check function, and make sure they are functioning when returned.

 

[Jim K]

Hi, Big Al,

I obviously cannot vouch for the quality of your work, but $60 including dis- and re-assembly, is a real bargain today. The dealer fee to ship is usually reasonable, and in the case of a handgun is more than offset by the dealer's ability to use USPS.

Jim

 

[Big Az Al]

Quality is alsways going to be a question

My dad got things started more then forty years ago. As my signature line says I grew up in a home/shop learning the trade. The basis of the priceing is based on doing work for other shops, so they are able to use your service and still turn a profit. As a few people, learned who we did work and saw what our work was going out of those shops for, they would say you need to charge more, to you know what.............!

One thing I will always recommend is, take a slide that would be the start, or is the heart of pistol build or rebuild project, or an old barrel from a single shot shotgun, or even cheap pistol barrel. Talk me into doing it for say fourty dollars, and see what you think from there.

I can not make a silk purse out of a souse ear, but it is amazing what can be done if there's enough left to work with!