Bluing kinda scummy
Whew, what a title , You guys must think Im a nut head!!!!well, maybe, smiles.
Anyway; Im begging again. I just picked up an older Winchester that a guys Grandpaw owned. The guy I bought it from thought it was neat to hang the gun on a board over his fake fireplace. When he did this the bluing was almost perfect. 25 years later, the gun hung in the same place, never being brought down, when I came along and bought it. My question is, after all these years, the bluing has collected all the grease and smoke in the house. The surface doesnt show rust but is like sandpaper to the touch. I used a little WD 40 in a small area with no results. Usually ,I never try to clean surfaces of old guns. I may wipe them down with a little oil but no cleaning agents. Is there anything that can remove this old build up , without damaging the surfaces. Help
Wildbill
Anyway; Im begging again. I just picked up an older Winchester that a guys Grandpaw owned. The guy I bought it from thought it was neat to hang the gun on a board over his fake fireplace. When he did this the bluing was almost perfect. 25 years later, the gun hung in the same place, never being brought down, when I came along and bought it. My question is, after all these years, the bluing has collected all the grease and smoke in the house. The surface doesnt show rust but is like sandpaper to the touch. I used a little WD 40 in a small area with no results. Usually ,I never try to clean surfaces of old guns. I may wipe them down with a little oil but no cleaning agents. Is there anything that can remove this old build up , without damaging the surfaces. Help
Wildbill
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Well, Bill, you'll probably think I'm a little nuts; but this one is kind of hard to answer without seeing the piece in question. I've never encountered this exact situation with the surface being so rough unless it was actually rusty. You certainly don't want to scour it with anything that will remove the finish. Without an exact chemical analysis of what the coating is I can't prescribe a chemical to disolve it. I think that it is experimentation time. Don't try anything known to remove bluing, and whatever you try, don't leave it on too long. Does the buttplate still have bluing? That would be a good place to experiment. Try: paint thinner, lacquer thinner, acetone, gun oil, G-96 Gun Treatment, Breakfree, etc. Perhaps some kerosene and a gentle circular motion with some 0000 steel wool. Good luck.[:)] 0 -
I'd try "" Hoppes No. 9 "" and some 0000 steel wool it has cleaned every thing down to rust and has never hurt the blueing my 2 cents Lee 0 -
I'd try your regular bore cleaning solvents as a first step. These are specifically formulated *not* to damage bluing and will cut through a lot of crap. Start with Hoppe's (I've used it to clean greasy residues in other circumstances). If you have any Blue Wonder, I'd give that a shot as well. Use a nylon brush - that should score the surface of the residues and allow the chemicals to penetrate more deeply while not being at all abrasive. Heck, soap and water might even do the trick if it is only byproducts of combustion.
"There is nothing lower than the human race - except the French." (Mark Twain) ". . . And DemoCraps" (me)0 -
Thanks guys; I thought about the 1000 steel wool. Maybe on the butt plate. In some areas its almost like a varnish . Damm, excuse the french, such a rare gun also. Ill try Hoppes and perhaps a degreaser . Hey ,I really appreciate your advice, thanks, Bill 0 -
I use magnesium wool as it will remove light rust without removing the bluing. 0 -
Buy some FLITZ at the hardware store or discount store and use it lightly and it will clean it right up and apply a protective coating. I use it all the time on dull blued or lightly scratched guns and it works wonders. Do not rub real hard just moderate pressure and polish it afterwards with a clean cloth.
It's All Crapola!!!0 -
What seems like varnish may Be varnish. It wouldn't be the first time someone varnished a gun to 'protect' the finish. Might try paint remover. Whatever you use, try it first in a small place where it won't show if it makes it worse. 0
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