Locktite Naval Jelly

[loose noose]

Found a new way to take off the bluing and rust (both the same) from old firearms especially TC and Pedersoli firearms and use a browning solution to make them look original. Actually I found it quite by accident, I bought what I thought was a very clean TC Hawkins for $90.00, looking it up in the MidSouth Shooting Supply, I found they sell new for $769.00. Naturally I jumped on it, only to find the bore was a solid hunk of rust. Well after using steel wool, my old cleaning solution, I finally found the lands and grooves, but still there was some rust on the lands. Being as my wife would tell ya,"I'm a perfectionist" so I decided to use a rust remover.Yup you guessed it Naval Jelly. Not quite sure what I "wasn't" thinking obviously, but that stuff took the bluing right down to the steel without rubbing. Needless to say, I'm gonna get out the Laurel Mtn Browning solution and go to work on it, before to long.:banghead: First thing I've got to do is test fire it and make sure the rifle will still shoot fairly accurate, I've got some roundballs, and some mini balls, bright and early tomorrow morning.

 

[Hellgate]

I'm curious to see how it goes. I'll be following the saga.

 

[Chawbaccer]

Naval jelly and other phosphate based rust removers will leave a gray phosphate coating similar to a parkerized finish. You will have to remove this to get a good brown or blued finish.

 

[loose noose]

I thank ya Chawbaccer for that bit of info, so far I touched up the bluing with Birchwood casey cold blue in the gel. It don't look too pretty but until I can get the time it'll have to do. Took it it out and shot it this morning, and it shoots very well, infact slightly over an inch with mini balls at 75 yards from a bench, after while I put up my final target. With round ball it was all over the target, at 75 yards, about the best I shot from the bench was 6" groups that is for 3 shot clusters. Well it's back to work, cause I'm retired, har har

 

[armedandsafe]

The problem with accuracy using round ball vs minies might be that the bore is now larger than specs. You might try a tighter (thicker) patch or try to find balls a couple of thousandths larger in diameter. My TC Hawkens .50 is this way and I've found that a heavier patch helps a lot.

Pops

 

[BADUNAME30]

Jeeesh noose, talk 'bout comin out smellin like a rose !!!
A $90 Hawken is great on it's own, but one that shoots with a rusted out bore !!!


Oh, yes i did git yer last pm.
I think i'm gonne git 'er the Pedersoli.
less work and no real fitting from what i've read.

 

[loose noose]

Here are the photos I promised earlier.

 

[BADUNAME30]

EEEWWWWWWWW it's a cap gun !!!!!
That's jist not riiiiight.

Hahahaha

Pretty dang sweet deal ya got there fer $90 noose.
Good lookin rifle even if it doesn't spark properlike.

 

[unknwn]

You can check with the folks at Log Cabin Shop (Lodi,Ohio (800)837-1082)
( www.logcabinshop.com ) about cast round balls in thousandths of an inch increments.
They are great people who really know thier stuff when it comes to BP firearms and period accoutrements.
Purchasing .454" & .457" balls a few weeks ago in the store cost me about $11.00 /100 , and I know that they have a pretty large selection of sizes on hand. I've never seen another store that has the selection that they provide.
If you happen to be in the area (N.E. Ohio), try to budget a couple of hours to spend at thier store -and- in house museum of authentic Kentucky & Ohio rifles and all the other historic stuff that covers two thirds of thier display area.
You just might get that neglected bore to perform if'n you are able to zero in on which ball size to fire through it.

 

[loose noose]

unknwn, I do believe it don't get no better than that with those mini balls, and I cast them for little of nothing. Also I have some denim material that I haven't tried yet with the roundball, using the oil soluble patches, I'm sure that will make the ball a bit tighter in it. Also the twist is 1/48 so that may have something to do with the the round balls. BTW I got all the rust out of it, and I didn't detect any pitting, of course I did a lot of polishing using valve polishing compound. I also cast .430 and .440 roundballs. The morning I was out shooting the rifle I used both, mostly .440 with pillow ticking patch that only measures .012 again using oil soluble solution (dry oily patch).

Yep Jim I believe I got a real gem, allthough when I first got into that bore I was a bit baffled, never seen rust quite that bad before, and never had to resort to naval jelly to get it out. The fella that sold it to me apologized for he had lost the ram rod, what about the rust?! ha ha.

 

[BADUNAME30]

The fella that sold it to me apologized for he had lost the ram rod, what about the rust?! ha ha.

Hahaha, yeah right. You jist didn't hear the whole sentence coz you was so gemmed by the price,
What he really said was......" sorry she aint got no ramrod, but she's got plenty o' rust " lolol
He probly took the rr out so's you couldn't run a patch down 'er.
He'll call you in a week and say he found it. hahaha

Heck noose, fer $90 investment, she's still a steal iffin you invest in a Green Mountain, Rice or Colerain.
Which is what i would do in a hear beat.

Have ya told yerself ...Merry Christmas ?

 

[loose noose]

Yup Jim that is my birthday, Christmas, fathers day present all rolled into one. BTW I just finished building a ramrod from an oak 3/8" dowel, and two brass ram rod tips from The Possibles Shop. I stained it with Special Walnut from Mini Wax. Cost me under $10.00. not bad eh?

 

[unknwn]

The oak will do for now but you really should spring for a proper piece of hickory like the original.
The oak will not be able to withstand long term the packing forces and you will curse it mightily when it breaks and if you are unlucky enough to end up with the problem of trying to remove a stuck hunk of dowel from the depths of that barrel.

 

[loose noose]

unknwn, I built the ramrod mostly for looks, I use my range rod, most of the time, further where do ya get a piece of hickory dowel? Cause that is what I was looking for at Home Depot. If ya know give me a holler back.

 

[Acorn Mush]

Loose, I'm glad you desire a hickory ramrod. Give Track of the Wolf http://www.trackofthewolf.com/index.aspx or The Possible Shop http://possibleshop.com/menu-muzzleloading.html a try. They should be able to fix you right up!

As an alternate, if there are any black powder Rendezvous in your neck of the woods you should be able to get a good hickory rod from one of the traders at said event(s). At a Rendezvous there is also the added bonus of being able to make some smoke and have a grand time with a bunch of other good folks.

 

[loose noose]

Thank ya Acorn Mush, I've dealt with The Possibles Shop, and was very pleased with them, in fact I got the rod tips from them, but didn't see any hickory dowels for ram rods, mostly aluminum, or space age plastic. I've dealt with TOW in the past also, reckon I'll have to give them a holler. Now that I'm retired I should find time to go to one of the BP Rendezvous, here shortly. If memory serves me right I believe there is one in Utah each spring, or even Williams AZ, which is both fairly close to me.