What is a blued gun?

The bluing process involves treating a gun with a solution that turns red iron oxide or rust (Fe2O3) into black iron oxide (Fe3O4). Bluing also creates a thin protective layer that protects guns from damaging pollutants. The process turns a gun barrel blue because black iron oxide has a blue-black color.

What does bluing do on a gun?

Bluing is most commonly used by gun manufacturers, gunsmiths, and gun owners to improve the cosmetic appearance of and provide a measure of corrosion resistance to their firearms. It was also used by machinists, who protected and beautified tools made for their own use.

Is stainless or blued better?

A blued gun should be kept well-oiled and wiped down after handling to stave off corrosion though. Stainless guns are a lot more corrosion-resistant, don't need to be kept as heavily or frequently oiled, and don't really show finish wear. It's a better finish choice for carry guns IMO.

What is the difference between bluing and browning?

Browning and bluing are terms used to describe any of several chemical treatments of metals that are essentially controlled rusting processes. On ferrous metals, bluing appears as a dark-colored, protective oxide layer on the surface. Probably the earliest surface treatment for metals was browning.

What is the most durable gun finish?

The black oxide finishing treatment is a high-quality, corrosion-resistant finish that won't chip, peel or change the physical dimension of a firearm piece. As one of the least expensive corrosion-resistant finishes on the market, black oxide is often the preferred finish used on gun barrels and small components.

Bluing Steel Parts Tutorial

What is the best finish to put on a gun stock?

The best finish to put on a gun stock is an oil finish. It is easy to apply, durable and can be used on finished and unfinished wood. Oil finish is also water-proof, prevents UV light from damaging the wood, and can last for several years.

What is parkerizing a gun?

Parkerizing is the process of protecting ferrous metals from corrosion and wear by applying a chemical phosphate coating. Parkerizing is an excellent gun coating in its own right and it also makes a perfect base for our DuraCoat® Firearm Finish!

Does bluing prevent rust?

Does bluing prevent rust? Cold bluing is a controlled oxidation of ferrous metals similar to rust. Whether cold or hot blued, these metals should be treated with a wax, lacquer or water displacing oil to reduce exposure to corrosion causing moisture.

How long does cold bluing last?

You will then apply the cold-bluing solution to your gun parts. After 12 hours, you can scrub the rust off the gun and reapply your bluing solution. You will repeat the cleaning and bluing process every 12 hours until you restore your gun to your satisfaction.

When was bluing invented?

Scientists generally agree that humans began to see blue as a color when they started making blue pigments. Cave paintings from 20,000 years ago lack any blue color, since as previously mentioned, blue is rarely present in nature. About 6,000 years ago, humans began to develop blue colorants.

Will blued barrels rust?

It is no mystery that a Blued Barrel is more prone to surface rust than Stainless Steel.

Do stainless steel guns rust?

Stainless steel guns can eventually develop rust overtime. Oxygen can have an adverse reaction with oxygen, forming a chemical compound that is harmful to stainless steel; steel combined with iron, water and oxygen will form iron oxide, or the technical term for rust.

Is a stainless barrel more accurate?

STAINLESS STEEL – these barrels offer the best accuracy and precision all-round. They are slightly heavier and more costly than chrome-moly, and are most suitable for long range precision where rapid fire is less likely.

Should you Reblue a gun?

The short answer is no. If it's your intent to maintain a firearm's collectibility and value, the answer is usually “no”; don't re-blue your gun. Firearms with an original finish, even if they have visible wear and discoloration are generally more valuable than those that have been refinished (re-blued or parkerized).

Can you still buy bluing?

You can also purchase bluing powder. Mrs. Stewart's Liquid Bluing is a leading brand in the United States; other brands include Bluette and Reckitt's Crown Blue.

Do you blue the inside of a barrel?

You should know, when someone pisses you off, it takes forty-eight muscles to frown but only two to pull a trigger. You're not wrong. The barrels are blued on the inside too.

How long does bluing take to cure?

Leave the gun parts in the bluing solution from 15 to 30 minutes. Check to see when the metal has reached the desired shade of bluing and remove it from the solution at that time. If your gun has stainless steel parts, those parts are immersed in a different chemical solution, a mixture of nitrates and chromates.

What are gun barrels made of?

Modern small arms barrels are made of carbon steel or stainless steel materials known and tested to withstand the pressures involved.

Is bluing toxic?

Gun bluing contains a variety of acids and other chemicals which can cause serious burns if the label instructions are not followed about wearing protective gloves. The chemicals are very toxic and rapidly absorbed if it is accidentally splashed or swallowed. Death can occur even in an adult.

Can aluminum be blued?

"bluing" metal is mostly for steel. It creates an almost black look. It's a chemical process that reacts with the surface of the steel. This look can be mimicked with surface coat material they sell for steel, but it will not work on aluminum.

What is cold bluing metal?

Bluing is a process used to improve the condition and aesthetic qualities of damaged metal surfaces on a wide range of hobbyist equipment. Bluing earns its name from the resultant blue/black finish which forms following the chemical reaction after applying the gel to a steel surface.

Is Cerakote better than bluing?

Cerakote ceramic coatings provide the durability and corrosion protection you need with the color you want, making it the perfect alternative to blueing. For the best in corrosion protection, Finish Strong™ with Cerakote.

Does parkerizing add thickness?

Parkerizing creates a uniform, nonmetallic crystalline structure over the base metal. Parkerizing is a conversion process in which the top layer of Fe is converted to a phosphate coating. Typically, the thickness of Zinc Phosphate is . 0002-.

What is black Parkerized?

m.b.H., an Austrian firearms manufacturer, uses a black Parkerizing process as a topcoat to a Tenifer process to protect the slides of the pistols they manufacture. After applying the Tenifer process, a black Parkerized finish is applied and the slide is protected even if the Parkerized finish were to wear off.