Bluing Salts Life

[Chrism]

How long do bluing salts usually go for? Yesterday we blued about 15 lbs of steel and the next batch we did it turned out brown. We used the same process as before. But one thing, our thermometer had some solution in the face. Did we perhaps trash the thermometer and overheat the solution??? We've done that before and it turned out maroon-brown that time. Anyone know?

[Blacksmith]

They last up till the point you contaminate them. It is possible to ruin them with 1 rifle. Or if your prep work and water is perfect, you should be able to do dozens.

[KernelKrink]

Commercial salts or homebrew? The Brownells Oxynate 7 we used at the gunshop lasted virtually forever, we blued in batches about once a month for over 6 years on the same salts. Had to buy some new when they ate through the tank.

[Jones]

Old gunsmith I worked with got long life out of his hot blue solutions. He was very strict though about nothing but steel going into them and he was always scooping the foam and sludge up off the surface of the solution.
Contamination is more of a killer than temp control.

[TheGreek!]

They last up till the point you contaminate them. It is possible to ruin them with 1 rifle. Or if your prep work and water is perfect, you should be able to do dozens.

All the stuff from Brownells arrived and I'm working on cleaning the cosmo and crap from the guns right now. If all goes right they should be ready by the end of the coming week. I'll keep you posted.

[Blacksmith]

All the stuff from Brownells arrived and I'm working on cleaning the cosmo and crap from the guns right now. If all goes right they should be ready by the end of the coming week. I'll keep you posted.

Sounds good.
I’m looking forward to firing the tanks up again!

Did they include a copy of their Bluing instructions?

[TheGreek!]

Sounds good.
I’m looking forward to firing the tanks up again!

Did they include a copy of their Bluing instructions?

No unfortunately. Does anybody have it available for download?

[Blacksmith]

No unfortunately. Does anybody have it available for download?

The one in Brownells Teck section is Printable.

http://www.brownells.com/userdocs/learn/Inst-113%20Bluing%20Booklet.pdf

My printer ink dried up again. So I do not have anyway to get a hard copy.
If you can print it, It would be nice to have the reference handy down at the shop.

[TheGreek!]

The one in Brownells Teck section is Printable.

http://www.brownells.com/userdocs/learn/Inst-113%20Bluing%20Booklet.pdf

My printer ink dried up again. So I do not have anyway to get a hard copy.
If you can print it, It would be nice to have the reference handy down at the shop.

Thanks for the link, I'll print it up for ya today.

[my-rifle]

The definitive thread on home hot bluing is here:

http://208.109.209.156/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=27254&hilit=home+hot+bluing&sid=cdf4fbd1d0cfb7b32d8a5b2636a87701

I've blued about 25 guns with this method, and I've made most of the mistakes. If it turns brown either you got the salts too hot or you let the items get down near the bottom of the tank where for some reason stuff turns brown. The good news is you can usually card off the brown to find a nice black finish. Give it a try.

You don't have to buy salts. making your own is easy, and I've used the same salts over and over again for about four years.

[TheGreek!]

The definitive thread on home hot bluing is here:

http://208.109.209.156/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=27254&hilit=home+hot+bluing&sid=cdf4fbd1d0cfb7b32d8a5b2636a87701

I've blued about 25 guns with this method, and I've made most of the mistakes. If it turns brown either you got the salts too hot or you let the items get down near the bottom of the tank where for some reason stuff turns brown. The good news is you can usually card off the brown to find a nice black finish. Give it a try.

You don't have to buy salts. making your own is easy, and I've used the same salts over and over again for about four years.

Blacksmith has all of the tanks and burners and stuff to do "pro shop" kind of blueing work which is why I'm gonna go over to his place to do it. Its too late to do the home brewed salts and stuff anyway, I already bought all of the salts and the other chemicals and stuff needed for blueing from Brownells and its here waiting for me to finish prepping the guns so that I can bring it all over to Blacksmiths place and make a day of it.

[my-rifle]

Blacksmith has all of the tanks and burners and stuff to do "pro shop" kind of blueing work which is why I'm gonna go over to his place to do it. Its too late to do the home brewed salts and stuff anyway, I already bought all of the salts and the other chemicals and stuff needed for blueing from Brownells and its here waiting for me to finish prepping the guns so that I can bring it all over to Blacksmiths place and make a day of it.

Best of luck, man. You're going to love bluing guns. Let us know how it comes out.

[TheGreek!]

Best of luck, man. You're going to love bluing guns. Let us know how it comes out.

Thanks for the good luck wishes. If the blueing comes out nice they should be the most beautiful milled yugo RPK's you've ever seen after I put them back together.... :small_gri


I'll take pics while we're blueing them and then take pics of the guns when they're done and post them up.

[my-rifle]

Thanks for the good luck wishes. If the blueing comes out nice they should be the most beautiful milled yugo RPK's you've ever seen after I put them back together.... :small_gri


I'll take pics while we're blueing them and then take pics of the guns when they're done and post them up.

I believe it. You're making me want to get started on a milled Yugo RPK, myself. They've always kind of intimidated me what with the welding and all.

[TheGreek!]

I dont think that the receiver repair pieces are available anymore. I just used new ORF receivers from AWO on them and had them numbered to match the kits. They did a great job on the numbers by the way, they're right in the middle of the lightening cut like they should be and they look factory too, nice strong stamping, etc,. They will be very nice additions to my collection once they're blued and re-assembled, I cant wait till they're done.... :small_gri

[my-rifle]

I know the parts aren't around anymore. I'll just do like everybody did when they started re-welding. I'll make my own receiver pieces. It's not the easiest thing in the world, but it's all fun, you know?