Barrel Browning issue - Laurel Mountain

[bajabill]

Im browning a muzzleloader kit barrel with the Laurel Mountian Forge solution and have a region of the barrel that will not brown.  I did not wax or polish the barrel.  I lightly sanded it before rusting.  For the most part, it is coloring nicely, but I have a small (about 1.5 x .75 area covering 2 of the flats) that will not take.  I have rubbed it back to the bare metal easily with steel wool a couple of times and added more coats of the LMF. 

2 things,   should I remove the brown on the entire barrel and start over?  I would like to just work the affected area.

then, what could be the cause of this area so I can get the process to work?

Unfortunately the area is on the top of the barrel and will not be hidden by the stock.

[mannyrock]

  Just a few thoughts:

  Before applying the brown, did you soak the entire barrel with a reputable de-greaser, such as Gunscrubber, and then wipe it down several times, to remove absolutly all grease and oil? 

   Is it possible that in those two areas, you previously spilled a little Lokt-Tight or other similar enamel, that filled the pores of the metal and is still present?  (You would need to research to find a proper solvent.  Acetone perhaps?)

  Is it possible that on those two bad areas, you used a different grade of sandpaper than you used on the rest of the barrel, or that you didn't sand it as much as the rest of the barrel?

   I think that I would try the spot repair approach before I re-did the whole barrel.  Sand those areas back down to the bare metal, apply lots of degreaser, maybe some acetone, make sure it is totally dry, and then try again.
   

[bajabill]

I did not de-grease the barrel.  This is a very localized blemish with a distinct boundary between the metal that accepts the browning and the metal that does not.  I am going to give that a try.

[Lost Oki]

I would suspect that mannyrock is correct, might be a finger print.  I have browned several barrels and always degreased at least once with a spray and the second time with rubbing alcohol.  Be sure to wear rubber gloves to keep body oils off the metal. 

Spot cleanup, degrease and then brown and you should be able to bring it right along.  Be sure to "Card" off between each browning sessions or you will get a build up or crust.  I used degreased steel wool.....Good luck and enjoy, its all a learning experience.

[mannyrock]

  If you use rubbing alcohol as a degreaser, then you need to make sure that you wipe the barrel dry, and blow it dry with a hot hairdryer, immediately after you use it.  Rubbing alcohol has water in it, and although the alcohol part will evaporate, the water part won't, and it will promptly start to rust the barrel.

   How do I know this stuff?  I am dumb and have made every conceivable mistake that could ever happen.  :-)

Manny