Whats going on here.

[jlgwiz]

  In preparation to touch-up the blueing on the top of the receiver,  I cleaned the area as suggested in another post, what I got was this, the area around the holes for the base screw has tuned completely white,  I mean really white.  What has happend here?  Can I go ahead and reblue this area or do I need to treat it with something else first?


               jlgwiz

[quickdtoo]

Thread locker will turn white when cleaned with steel wool, that would be my guess if the bluing isn't truly gone.

Tim

[jlgwiz]

    Thanks for the reply.   Thread locker was used to put the original bases on but steel wool was not used to clean the area.   The original bases were aluminum (cheap),  that would not have caused the problem with the steel,  would it.

    jlgwiz

[quickdtoo]

If it's thread locker, you should be able to scrape it off with you finger nail or remove it with acetone.

Tim

[jlgwiz]

 Acetone had no effect but  using a penny (no finger nails),  it did come off the flat places.  Thank You.  Now comes the work,  getting it out of the scroll work on top of the receiver.   Would it hurt anything to just leave it in the hard to get places?  Clean off the flat places and just leave it in the indentations?

               jlgwiz

[quickdtoo]

Acetone should soften it, I've removed blue Loctite with it, but heat will soften it quicker. I don't think it would hurt to leave it tho either. 

Tim

[jlgwiz]

As always you have been a big help,  Thank You.  I appreciate the help you and the others give,  especially to a "newbie" like myself.  Maybe one of these days I will be able to be move productive and be able to help.

            jlgwiz

[Rangr44]

I bought a bag of wooden popsicle sticks, which I use in situations like yours & trimming of glass bedding that's oozed out but not fully hardened yet.

Cut a stick at an angle, near one end, and use the sharp bias cut as a scraper that won't harm bluing and the point to dig out threads and engraving.

Your fingernails won't take a beating, and the dried tread locker will still pop right off.

Toss the cut stick when it dulls, splits, or you're done - since they're almost as cheap as dirt.

I bought them in a store's cooking section - the sticks are used for making freezer ice pops for kids.

[jlgwiz]

  Thanks for the idea about the sticks.  I will give it a try.


              jlgwiz