Cold blue questions

[handirifle]

I know cold bluing is not as good as hot blue, but I have no access to hot blue, so I did a cold blue on an old Remington 511 rimfire for a brother in law.  The rifle was a total bucket of rust before, and looks about 1000% better, but I'd still like to make it better, if possible.

I did a cold blue on the receiver/barrel, it was completely sanded starting with 150grit to 2000 before bluing, in some places, actually filed, it was that deep.

There are some slight water like marks on it though, is there an easy way to get rid of those without ruining the blue?

I repeated the process about 6 times in the one night, and let it sit overnight, after oiling it down (as per instructions on the bottle).

[gunnut69]

What blue did you use. Uneven color is unfortunately a common thing with some cold blues. They were mostly intended for touch up. OxphoBlue and some others react better if the piece being blued is heated first and the area applied is as even as possible. The blotches are also helped by the burnishing process when using the OxphoBlue. Try repeated applications and keep the application areas wet until the product stops biting. Good luck.. Please note I prefer The OxphoBlue product as it is so much better than the others in this respect as well as wear resistance.

[handirifle]

Thanks,
I think it's birchwood casey cold blue.  I did pretty much keep it wet, but there are still a few "water spots", not bad but annoying.  I didn't heat the pieces as I'm not really set up too well for this type of thing.

I also lost a trigger spring and plunger, I didn't even know when they came out , but already ordered new ones from Numerich's.

What do you burnish with?

I have already oiled the barrel down, but I can still clean it and re-apply the blue, correct?

Do you have to use the same brand of blue all the way through?  The BC is almost gone anyway, and I might be able to find a gunshop with the Oxphoblue, but I won't bother if it will mess it up.

[koginam]

This is a hot water bluing system that will make the gun shine.  Follow the directions

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=1067&title=DICROPAN+%22IM%22%7e

[handirifle]

Thanks I saved the link and will look into that.

[davem270win]

Oxpho-Blue and 4-0 steel wool has always worked well for me, and the 4-0 will remove most of the "water" marks.  Unless you hit some kind of alloy that won't take blue.

[gunnut69]

Try a little heat when applying the OxphoBlue. It accelerates the process and with burnishing between applications stops the uneven color.

[handirifle]

How do you apply the heat?  What is wrong if when rubbing down the barrel, it tends to rub off the newly appliedblue?  Cloth seems to rub it off, so I'm a little concerned about steel wool.

[gunnut69]

The steel wool suggestion is for OxphoBlue only. OxphoBlue also will work through a bit of oil making application exponentially easier. To heat the metal I use a propane torch. Heat is applied until the metal is nearly too hot to hold. Although how hot is not critical as any heat will speed the process. Also don't re-use contaminated product. Poor a bit out in a plastic lid or disposable cup and through it away after use. I apply with a makeup applicator. They're available for next to nothing a WalMart and folded twice and clamped in a cheap Chinese forceps they are the best disposable swab I've found..

[handirifle]

OK time constraints keep me from ordering anything new, so I had to go with what I had.  Anyway, here is the finished product, and I have learned a lot here, and at rimfire central too.  Thanks for the help, will be at it again in a month or two on a very old Savage 110.

Here's the Rem 511

[gunnut69]

That certainly is a pretty piece of wood.. Looks like its loaded with fiddleback!! Looks like a nice job..

[handirifle]

Thanks, for the compliment.  This rifle was a major rust bucket when I brought it home.  I had to file several places on the barrel, receiver, and even the trigger guard to make them smooth.

Funny thing is, for cold blue, I think I actually sanded it too smooth.  Ended up with 2000 grit paper, and it was suggested that 150 should have been fine, once buffed and polished.

I wanted to go for that custom look, you know, highly polished, but wasn't meant to be.  It was also suggested I use Oxpho blue next time.  here, and elsewhere, so I will give that a try.

Here is a pic from a diff angle.

[handirifle]

Thius is the other side of the buttstock, it actually looks nicer than the first side.

[gunnut69]

Looks like you did a great job!  OxphoBlue gives a longer lasting blue and is easier to boot but it seems to me yours turned out just fine... Beautiful wood on that old Remington! Good luck and thanks for the pictures!