How do you blue an old pistol?

[crzbiker]

Hi Guys,
I recently purchased a Mauser Model 1914 and it is in need of a new finish. Can this be successfully blued with off the shelf solutions?
My P64 could use some new finish, but I'd prefer to test my technique on something else first.
Thanks

[oddshot]

You might want to go here:

http://www.akfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31594

The AKfiles Forum has a GREAT thread on the "rust bluing" process.

This tread indicates that this process is pretty much the same that was used on German Mil. stuff.

Two big pluses...

Its pretty easy to do...

and its VERY cheap to do.


It brings up a real nice black-blue color...MUCH better than cold blueing.

Worth a look!

oddshot

[trent]

that's cool, I'll have to try that sometime!

[crzbiker]

Thanks for your input. I'll check out the site.

[anjdrifter]

neat link thanks

[weetabix]

I didn't read the whole thing, but do you plug the barrel or something to keep the rust out, or do you just keep your chemicals off of the barrel?

[fritzhund]

That is Sofa King cool.

Sofa King is a store in Boston that used to have ads that said:

OUR PRICES ARE SOFA KING LOW...........

I think I'm going to do that to the Enfield I have all apart.



Fritzhund

[normsutton]

weetabix

yes plug the barrel,


NORM

[oddshot]

I didn't read the whole thing, but do you plug the barrel or something to keep the rust out, or do you just keep your chemicals off of the barrel?

PLEASE... Read the whole thread...

there is MUCH good information there...

The process ... in a nutshell....

1. Bead blast the part you want to blue...where you want it blued.

2. Degrease EVERYTHING throughly

3. Wipe on a VERY THIN COAT OF RUST BLUE...its not even a "coat"... just barely get the parts that you want blued...damp...not wet!!! ... the more you put on...the more trouble you'll have getting the blue you want. JUST WIPE IT WHERE YOU WANT "BLUE"...

4. Boil the parts...in WATER. Distilled if you can get it....at least filtered tap water.

5. Take the parts out of the water, Hang them up and let them rust .... the red rust color will be the blue.

6. "Card" the parts with a stailness steel wire brush...."Carding" means brushing off the rust...this can be messy....wear old clothing...and gloves....do it in an area that you can clean easily...

7, 8, 9, 10. Repeat until you get the blue you want. 4 repeats should do it.

I would refer you to the first set of pictures of the AK parts...look into the chamber...what do you see...?


The chamber and bore NEVER get sand blasted...They NEVER get wiped with the chemicals...

NO CHEMICALS EVER GET INTO THE BORE or CHAMBER!!!

There are NO chemicals in the water!!!!!!

If you have concerns about BOILING WATER getting into the bore... pull a cleaning patch through the bore to get out the water after you take it out of the tank and before you hang the part to "rust" ...

This process is NOT like caustic blueing...where you boil the part in the solution.

There is NO REAL NEED to plug the barrel.

Throughly read the thread...all the information you want/need is in there.


oddshot

[weetabix]

I should have clarified: I didn't read all 241 posts in the thread.

As I think back on it, I pour boiling water down the barrels of my Mosins and they don't rust.

Thanks for the clarification, oddshot.

[carguy]

I just like degreaser to remove all of the oil...maybe some naval jelly or just denatured alcohol to clean the metal with some 0000 steel wool. Then soak with Brichwood Casey cold blue. let wit, wipe, buff gently with the steel wool and repeat until you have the color you like. Final buff and oil it up good! This is alot easier than bead blasting, rusting and boiling...in my humble opinion...but to each his own.