Steam method for rust bluing

[troy fairweather]

Looking of to rust blue My 09 Argentine soon, it's not blued but think the salts were on the weak side when blued about 18 years ago. So think I'll rust blue it this time, steaming looks to be the best option for me.

I see guys use a large stainless stock pot and use a pease of pvc to steam the parts. I believe the solution I have is the pilkingtons.

I have the bolt parts striped to 320grit and bottom metal and floor plate. Still have to do the barrel and action, is it better to remove the barrel or just leave it. I may see about getting a carting wheel but degreased steal wool should work.

Anyone use this method before?

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Yes, used Pilkington stuff many times, you can leave the barrel in the action. Degreased steel wool works good, get triple ought or 4 ought as you dont want course stuff that will damage the first few coats during the carding part. Steam box should help keep in mind you only need to raise the humidity in the box not necessarily applying steam directly to parts. Make real sure to wear rubber gloves as any fingerprints will not take the solution. Hope this helps.

 

[Mauser lover]

Yep. What I consider to be my very first real gunsmithing project was rebluing a Marlin 60. Rust blued using Laurel Mountain brown/blue solution, then boiling in a trough. I've since moved on to steam. Steam is so much simpler. Still use the Laurel stuff, because I haven't run out of it yet! A little goes a really long way.

Leave the receiver and barrel together.

I'd make a sweat box for the rusting, then steam if I were you. On second thought, it may be plenty humid this time of year to not need a sweat box. The steam does need to be directly applied to the parts to convert the red rust to black. It does not need to be applied directly to the parts if you are in the rusting stage. I'm thinking you were referring to using the steam (rather than boiling) to convert the rust, right?

I've never had a carding wheel. Maybe someday I'll have the space to set one up, but for now I just use degreased 0000 steel wool. I think 000 is a little too coarse, but that's just me. Some folks use strips of denim instead, and I've tried that, but I like the 0000 steel wool.

 

[troy fairweather]

Yep. What I consider to be my very first real gunsmithing project was rebluing a Marlin 60. Rust blued using Laurel Mountain brown/blue solution, then boiling in a trough. I've since moved on to steam. Steam is so much simpler. Still use the Laurel stuff, because I haven't run out of it yet! A little goes a really long way.

Leave the receiver and barrel together.

I'd make a sweat box for the rusting, then steam if I were you. On second thought, it may be plenty humid this time of year to not need a sweat box. The steam does need to be directly applied to the parts to convert the red rust to black. It does not need to be applied directly to the parts if you are in the rusting stage. I'm thinking you were referring to using the steam (rather than boiling) to convert the rust, right?

I've never had a carding wheel. Maybe someday I'll have the space to set one up, but for now I just use degreased 0000 steel wool. I think 000 is a little too coarse, but that's just me. Some folks use strips of denim instead, and I've tried that, but I like the 0000 steel wool.

Yes steam to convert rust, I've rustblued before. Mostly sxs barrels and having a proper gunsmith setup. I did a few pistols to for the guy I was working for, so I know the process but just wondering about the steam.

 

[troy fairweather]

I will make a damp box, I'm doing it at my dads upstate. He should have something to make a box, my try a crock pot with water in it.

 

[Mauser lover]

I know the process but just wondering about the steam.

Yeah, you can do either. They both work, I've done both. I still find boiling easier for small parts, but I doubt I'll ever boil a rifle barrel again.

 

[Schlegel]

I recently did a barrel using steam.... worked fine, and no worries about if the tap water has too much mineral content.

 

[troy fairweather]

I recently did a barrel using steam.... worked fine, and no worries about if the tap water has too much mineral content.

Looks good

 

[Armorer 101]

This is an old post, just hought I would add that the steam pipe process makes rust blueing possible for most folks that have a fish fryer and a propane tank. You can buy the steam pipe parts, distilled water and acetone at Ace.
I have done several full rifles and shotguns with excellent results. If you do not like it, you can keep redoing it until you do like it. When you get it done, add one more pass. If you use belts and not polishing compound the rust blue takes much better and 220 is a good polish grit for rust blue.