Rust bluing + Engraving = ?

[Azrael256]

So, I've got the steel on my Walker polished down the way the instructions recommend. No more rough tool marks, but not a real fine, shiny polish. My question pertains to the "Fighting Dragoons" scene that Uberti engraves on the cylinder. It's a rather fine engraving, and it's not very deep. If I slather it in rust bluing solution, is it going to rust out the engraving?

 

[Plink]

Rust bluing is a fine etching process. That's why it leaves such a pretty, satin finish. I would be hesitant to use it with preexisting engraving. Rust bluing doesn't change the dimensions. That is it doesn't etch very deeply, but it may soften the sharpness of the details. I haven't had any problems with it blurring proofmarks or serial numbers, but I'm not sure what it would do on finely detailed engraving. You might want to experiment a little first.

 

[GeorgeR]

Rust Blue on Engraving

Just to confuse the issue , I've done a number of receivers with slow rust blue and have found that it hasn't affected the engraving at all. Most high end shotguns I do have really nice engraving and I've never had a problem. I polish to about 400 grit.

 

[Azrael256]

Hmm... I think I'm going to give it a try. I'm not going for show quality with this gun. It's my first kit. I want ot make it as nice as possible, but everything is a learning process. I'll make it perfect when I'm up to ten or eleven

 

[jpcampbell]

If GeorgeR says its ok I would do it, His work is some of the best around.

 

[Old Fuff]

On both the originals and current clones the cylinder engraving wasn't cut. It was sort of stamped in by a process called "roll engraving." The master is on one plate, and the cylinder, under pressure, is rolled underneith it. I don't think that rust bluing should cause any problems, but it depends on how well, and how deep the impressed engraving is.