Homebrew Hot Blueing

John Sabato · 09-01-2009, 12:06 PM

Just came across this article on home brew hot blueing and thought it might find some interest among the amateur gunsmiths on the forum.

Enjoy, but attempt at your own risk! This is not for the accident prone! Use safety equipment, especially eye protection.

http://www.blindhogg.com/homemadesalts.html

Ice · 09-01-2009, 12:39 PM

John, thank you for pointing a very interesting article. I have been looking for a simple salts blue solution for a long time and am wondering if anybody has used this one and how it compares to something like Brownells blueing salts. I have used Pilkington's Rust Blue solution for a number of years in my junker rebuild projects. I get great results on S&W's, Winchesters and Colts. The color can be varied from a light, almost translucent blue to dark blue black depending on the number of coats applied and the humidity. Only drawback to rust blue is the long time it takes to process the metal; that and the fact that a rust blue sometimes just isn't "right" for a particular firearm.

Charlie

suum cuique · 09-01-2009, 09:16 PM

I found this ad while surching in the internet for information about blueing a gun.
http://www.bluewonder.us/BlueWonderGunBlue.html

Has somebody experience with this stuff? Is it really as good as advertised?
Thanks,
Andy

Ice · 09-02-2009, 05:22 AM

I have seen Blue Wonder demonstrated at the gunshow. It was applied to gunmetal that was heated with a torch. The man selling it was glib and sounded just like a used car salesman. It colors steel for certain and even looks good but my concern is for the durability of the coating; if its that good then why aren't major manufacturers and custom gunmakers using the product? It certainly would be cheaper.

Charlie

Steinar · 09-02-2009, 06:17 AM

Greetings gentlemen

Blue Wonder is nice for small scratches here and there. I use this stuff on my hunting rifles/shotguns. The biggest area I have 'blued' is where the rear sight on a Mauser K98 barrel normaly would be attached. Compared to the rest of the barrel, it tend to rust more easily and is somewhat less durable. Touching up a Luger with this would be a big no-no in my eyes btw.

John; thanks, your link was interesting reading

Went Blakely · 09-02-2009, 12:30 PM

Cheers John S, a great read.

I've also been wondering about that blue wonder for some time, no way i'd put it on a luger, but i sure would like to try it on a clapped out shooter, or one of my demill resto jobs. I came close to trying it a few months back, but at the time, where i was, could only find the gun blacking kits, and not the blue, so gave it a miss!

PhilOhio · 09-02-2009, 01:22 PM

I've had fairly good luck with Brownell's "Dicropan IM", a very non-toxic hot water bluing process. The cheaper the steel, the better and more durable the result. There are some tricks to it, but I have done a lot of handguns.

To do long guns, you need a long stainless steel tank and controllable flame heating source. I don't have that yet.

If you go into conventional salt bluing, there are lots of compounds you can use, but you had better have a wood out building to do it in, and expect all sorts of nearby metal components to be corroded and destroyed. That's why fewer and fewer places do rebluing.

For some handguns and military firearms, I strongly urge anybody to look into parkerizing. It's easy, cheap, most of the raw ingredients come from Home Depot or a pottery supply place, it's non-toxic, and you can do it at home. I've done a bunch. The results are professional and permanent. That's why you are seeing so many phony "original" parkerized ex-military guns at shows.

MFC · 09-02-2009, 10:38 PM

Hi Steinar,
Glad to see you posting again. I remember that you said you were ill. I hope your doing better.

Steinar · 09-03-2009, 03:09 AM

Thanks Mike, I'm still alive and kicking

Feeling better now after having a tumour removed, so it's back to the fun things in life

It seems like Duracoat is a product that is very popular now days. It's not bluing, but when I held a pistol with black Duracoat in my hands, I could swear it was..
Perhaps that's alternative to Blue Wonder.

John Sabato · 09-03-2009, 10:52 AM

Steinar, Glad to see you feeling somewhat better... Stay on the mend old friend.

Vlim · 09-03-2009, 12:22 PM

Steinar!

Welcome back. Let's hope things will get better soon. I'm short of a few nerves now, so am also feeling better by the day.

the gunman · 09-03-2009, 01:21 PM

Steiner "WELCOME HOME"

09-01-2009, 12:06 PM	#1
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	Homebrew Hot Blueing Just came across this article on home brew hot blueing and thought it might find some interest among the amateur gunsmiths on the forum. Enjoy, but attempt at your own risk! This is not for the accident prone! Use safety equipment, especially eye protection. http://www.blindhogg.com/homemadesalts.html __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

09-01-2009, 09:16 PM	#3
suum cuique User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: MD / Currently about 9000 klicks east of the Potomac Posts: 497 Thanks: 108 Thanked 47 Times in 35 Posts	Blue wonder I found this ad while surching in the internet for information about blueing a gun. http://www.bluewonder.us/BlueWonderGunBlue.html Has somebody experience with this stuff? Is it really as good as advertised? Thanks, Andy

09-02-2009, 06:17 AM	#5
Steinar User Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,538 Thanks: 18 Thanked 36 Times in 21 Posts	Greetings gentlemen Blue Wonder is nice for small scratches here and there. I use this stuff on my hunting rifles/shotguns. The biggest area I have 'blued' is where the rear sight on a Mauser K98 barrel normaly would be attached. Compared to the rest of the barrel, it tend to rust more easily and is somewhat less durable. Touching up a Luger with this would be a big no-no in my eyes btw. John; thanks, your link was interesting reading __________________ Previously known as Morgan Kane

09-02-2009, 12:30 PM	#6
Went Blakely User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 231 Thanks: 4 Thanked 8 Times in 6 Posts	Cheers John S, a great read. I've also been wondering about that blue wonder for some time, no way i'd put it on a luger, but i sure would like to try it on a clapped out shooter, or one of my demill resto jobs. I came close to trying it a few months back, but at the time, where i was, could only find the gun blacking kits, and not the blue, so gave it a miss! __________________ Went Blakely

09-02-2009, 10:38 PM	#8
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	Hi Steinar, Glad to see you posting again. I remember that you said you were ill. I hope your doing better. __________________ Mike C.

09-01-2009, 12:39 PM	#2
Ice User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 552 Thanks: 13 Thanked 69 Times in 57 Posts	John, thank you for pointing a very interesting article. I have been looking for a simple salts blue solution for a long time and am wondering if anybody has used this one and how it compares to something like Brownells blueing salts. I have used Pilkington's Rust Blue solution for a number of years in my junker rebuild projects. I get great results on S&W's, Winchesters and Colts. The color can be varied from a light, almost translucent blue to dark blue black depending on the number of coats applied and the humidity. Only drawback to rust blue is the long time it takes to process the metal; that and the fact that a rust blue sometimes just isn't "right" for a particular firearm. Charlie

09-02-2009, 05:22 AM	#4
Ice User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 552 Thanks: 13 Thanked 69 Times in 57 Posts	I have seen Blue Wonder demonstrated at the gunshow. It was applied to gunmetal that was heated with a torch. The man selling it was glib and sounded just like a used car salesman. It colors steel for certain and even looks good but my concern is for the durability of the coating; if its that good then why aren't major manufacturers and custom gunmakers using the product? It certainly would be cheaper. Charlie

09-02-2009, 01:22 PM	#7
PhilOhio User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 145 Thanks: 5 Thanked 17 Times in 14 Posts	I've had fairly good luck with Brownell's "Dicropan IM", a very non-toxic hot water bluing process. The cheaper the steel, the better and more durable the result. There are some tricks to it, but I have done a lot of handguns. To do long guns, you need a long stainless steel tank and controllable flame heating source. I don't have that yet. If you go into conventional salt bluing, there are lots of compounds you can use, but you had better have a wood out building to do it in, and expect all sorts of nearby metal components to be corroded and destroyed. That's why fewer and fewer places do rebluing. For some handguns and military firearms, I strongly urge anybody to look into parkerizing. It's easy, cheap, most of the raw ingredients come from Home Depot or a pottery supply place, it's non-toxic, and you can do it at home. I've done a bunch. The results are professional and permanent. That's why you are seeing so many phony "original" parkerized ex-military guns at shows.

09-03-2009, 03:09 AM	#9
Steinar User Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,538 Thanks: 18 Thanked 36 Times in 21 Posts	Thanks Mike, I'm still alive and kicking Feeling better now after having a tumour removed, so it's back to the fun things in life It seems like Duracoat is a product that is very popular now days. It's not bluing, but when I held a pistol with black Duracoat in my hands, I could swear it was.. Perhaps that's alternative to Blue Wonder. __________________ Previously known as Morgan Kane

09-03-2009, 10:52 AM	#10
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	Steinar, Glad to see you feeling somewhat better... Stay on the mend old friend. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

09-03-2009, 12:22 PM	#11
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,990 Times in 1,205 Posts	Steinar! Welcome back. Let's hope things will get better soon. I'm short of a few nerves now, so am also feeling better by the day.

09-03-2009, 01:21 PM	#12
the gunman User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Leland NC 28451 Posts: 1,017 Thanks: 1 Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	Steiner "WELCOME HOME"