Waxing Gun Bluing

[Doug B.]

I will go way out of my way to assure that I have the best possible protection for my guns while out in the field. I have heard of many members using Flitz for protection. I have an acquaintance that swears by it for his duck hunting scatter gun.

What about ordinary auto wax? What if any ingredients contained in any brand would/could harm the bluing?

Sorry if this may have been covered in previous forums, however, my searches have been futile.

Thanks for your help.

[iiranger]

When I was young, young guys I knew drove around with car bodies in primer until they could afford the paint... Red? Gray? Yellow? (yuck) Long ago.

Now they prep the metal, then the pigment, then one or two clear coats... In a sealed booth where they wear breathing gear, 'cause the finish can get into your lungs and kill you...

You say "ordinary auto wax..." What, exactly, are you talking about?

I would worry that some of the "auto waxes" for today's super finishes might have something that could harm blue.

Now if you are talking about "furniture wax" or "wood wax" or Shoe polish too. I would be much less concerned.

Many, many, for all  my life have handled guns with a "tack rag." Rag impregnated with rosin or other natural resin. Keeps a light coat on metal and wood and hurts nothing. I wouldn't worry about bees wax either. Or lanolin. Little gooey. Castor oil. Oily.

Then there are the sprays. WD 40 is now the oldest and out of date. Silicon sprays. Lubes. Graphite. Moly. Chain lubes. I am not afraid to go over something with WD 40 lightly, but for better protection, yes, wax, but the modern finish car waxes... they scare me. Luck.

[stubshaft]

I use alot of Flitz on both the outside and inside of my barrels.  I have also used pure yellow carnauba wax on the stocks and exterior of my rifles and shotguns without any problems.  Carnauba wax is the base for most premium car waxes (it doesn't show streaks) and furniture waxes/polishes.

[Davemuzz]

I use Renaissance Wax http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=541091 on my Model 29 Smith. This stuff makes it shine with no streaks and water beads up during the rain. I like it a bunch.

[Hairtrigger]

I have used auto wax on my shotguns for years. They are the only guns of mine that I carry in bad weather (shotgun only state for deer).
I believe the wax does a great job of protecting the metal and wood.

[victorcharlie]

I use Johnson's paste wax for my wooden stocks and black Kiwi shoe polish for the bluing.  I've used it for years with great results.

[Antietamgw]

I use Johnson's paste wax for my wooden stocks and black Kiwi shoe polish for the bluing.  I've used it for years with great results.

+1 for the Johnson's Paste Wax. I use it on the metal, 2 light coats buffed with a soft cloth after each coat. It's also the best release agent I've found for epoxy and glass bedding. Keep it away from optics - you'll never get it off!

[Mike Bare]

How about bowling alley wax? Will that work? Has anyone tried it?

[Davemuzz]

How about bowling alley wax? Will that work? Has anyone tried it?

Last time I bowled with my 44 magnum it got real ugly 6 lanes over. Never......and I mean NEVER cock your hammer in single action when your ready to throw!!!   

[kiddekop]

The best wax for blue steel weapons is TREWAX been using it for years on my  blued shotguns,rifles,handguns & stainless steel handguns & rifles.Clean all traces of oil & grease from the exterior of your blued steel weapons.I coat my  wood stocks also.

[charles p]

When I was a child in the 50's, my mom put furniture polish on my gun stocks one day.  After an all day hunt in the rain, the wood turned almost white.  I was embarassed for the adult hunters to see my shotgun.

[Mckie Hollow]

Renaissance picture frame wax is the best. Many exhibition stock makers use it. It will not finger print. Johnson's paste wax is used a lot. I've been using Butcher's Bowling alley wax for years. It is very good, but will fingerprint. Never had a problem using any of it on the metal works. Use a good carnuba, but stay away from any wax that has a silicone additive.

[kiddekop]

To cover wood stock scratches use Old English Furniture Polish then Trewax .I let my dealer use some to make sks stocks look better at gun shows,my gs used it on stocked rifles & shotguns brought it for cleaning by his customers.