I have an old 12 GA. Double barrel I would like to re finish myself. The wood and steel are "Well worn". What home bluing kit have any of you had luck with? I tried one about 30 years ago on an old 30-06 and it turned out "ok". But it didn't seem to take the bluing very good.

Brownell's Oxpho-blue is about as good a cold blue you will find. Depending on what you want will dictate how many coats you put on. Be sure to prep the metal good.

Agree on Brownells Oxpho-blue. It's the best I've found. If there is something better out there I'd like to know.

Durablue

Thank you. After watching a few videos, Brownell it is. Thanks again.

I work in a metal plating shop.

Prep , prep , prep.
Clean , clean , clean.

90% of your final finish is how clean the metal was going into the bluing solution.

I see they have Brownells Oxpho-blue in 4 ounce and 32 ounce sizes. How many long guns will 4 ounces cover?

Have any of you tried it on axes and hatchets?

Keith

Just for info -

Steel parts after cleaning.

Black oxide tank @ 235°

After dipping in black oxide for 45 mins.

Hey Cragar, is there anything electro with that black oxide process ?

I see black oxide in the MSC tool catalog but assume it is a cold process.
Not sure, thanks

Ive used Birchwood Casey Perma Blue in the past. Turned out ok, but wish it was a deeper blue. Might try the Brownells next time....

There is no electroplating done on our black oxide process. Just heat , time , chemicals , water and plenty of LPG to keep the mixture at a rolling boil which provides agitation for even coverage.
I actually used that tank to refinish a shotgun. For those that don't know , bluing is a way of application by using black oxide. The previous pics above show a Deep black color. This is what most of our customers want. If you put metal in for a short time , it will come out 'blued' as a light coat of black oxide with the shiny steel poking through. Leave the parts in longer , more chemicals , etc , you get a deep black oxide finish.

We electoplate nickel and chrome at my job. Do electropolish on stainless and a couple other finishes too.

The electropolish on stainless is kinda cool. You start with real dull stainless and by using heat , chemicals and electricity , it turns into a mirror finish. It looks almost shinier than chrome.


These both stainless. It is obvious which one got electropolished. There is zero chrome or nickel or any other plating on the shiny one. Just stainless , polished to a mirror.

Interesting Cragar ... Thanks !
Led me to this related info on hot, mid temp and cold (blueing) processes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_oxide

Learn something everyday ... thanks again,

You just aren't going to get a real good job out of a bottle, that's all there is to it. For a double or any where there could be soft solder a rust blue is used. You'll need something to boil water in that's a little longer than the barrels. It's not that much more work than some bubba bottle job but when you're done you have something worthwhile. I'm sure you can find information on the web to do it or I can guide you through the process