Do-it-yourself blueing
I have a TAPCO FAL kit that's in good condition overall. The bore is beautiful, but the finish is gone on most of the metal parts. I'd like to reblue the barrel and I'm thinking about using a cold blue kit I saw at Turner's. Has anyone had any experience with these? Are they any good? Here's a dumb question, can I spray paint it? Thanks!
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I have a TAPCO FAL kit that's in good condition overall. The bore is beautiful, but the finish is gone on most of the metal parts. I'd like to reblue the barrel and I'm thinking about using a cold blue kit I saw at Turner's. Has anyone had any experience with these? Are they any good? Here's a dumb question, can I spray paint it? Thanks! 0 -
I have reblued some guns, but at most with a cold blue kit it seems to be at best temporary.
There is a chemical company that can be found in your search on the computer that is supposed to have the best reblueing chemicals on the mkt,, I looked there once but cant remember the name
And please dont spray paint it
Somewhere around you should be someone that does gun refinishing, I have a TED WILLIAMS 30-30 that I am having done completly, and the guy here only charges 130.00 Check em out0 -
Check out www.hotflashrefinishing.com.
They don't know it yet, but they are going to get a couple of mine this summer.
cbxjeffIt's too late for me, save yourself.0 -
Gentlemen, thanks for the info and caveat. After looking at the prices hot flash charges, I'm beginning to understand what a great deal the combo from DSA really is. I paid $170 for a complete, beautifully parkerized G1 kit. Rathery than reblueing the barrel of my Tapco kit, I guess I might be better off installing a brand-new, chrome-lined Argentinian barrel that can be had for less than $100 with gas block included. 0 -
I've never sucessfully done one of those home rebluing kits. Like Classic095 said, at best they are temporary. Hot bluing is the only way to go if you want to blue. There's a guy on gunbroker who does auctions for reblue jobs for $50. I'm thinking about sending a gun to him.
As far a rebluing yourself, those chemicals used are very caustic, and I only hear too much about how sickley people who reblue are. I even have a gunsmithing book that mentions it. The chemicals and fumes are very bad for you. Bluing is an old finish, some consider obsolete. There are many better types of finishes that offer great protection from oxidization. As a matter of fact, if you think about it, bluing is a type of controlled oxidization of the surface. It has not protective value what so ever. All it does is look pretty.
Here is a list of different types of finishing:
Cold Blueing
Propane Heat Blueing
Rust Blueing
Bake-on Epoxy Finishes
Amer-lene
Hot-dip Blueing
Color case hardening
Pakerizing
Nickel Plating
Hard Chroming (My personal favorite)
Armoly
Teflon
Electroless Nickel
Robar NP3 (Electroless and Teflon)
Stainless Steel Blackening
Black Chrome (A great alternative to blueing, beautiful)
Gold Plating
Roguard Baked Epoxy
Anodizing (Aluminum only)
Glocks Tenifer Finish (Only on glocks, sorry)
And I didn't even break open the books yet. My point is, there is so many different types of finishes out there, you need to research.
If you've got a loose worn out gun, have it hard chromed, it will tighten it back up and wear surfaces will be restored and last even longer than before. The only finish I can think of that would be harder than an industrial hard chrome would be Glocks Tenifer Finish, and Glock keeps that a close secret.
If you want that really nice dark black finish of a newly blued gun, then you might think about having it black chromed. It will have the same lasting effect of chroming (not hard chroming, they're different), but it will have a beautiful shining dark mirror black finish.
Visit me http://www.geocities.com/gunsmithlee0 -
Lee, great information and much appreciated. Any chance you could pass on the name and email of the guy who'll do reblues for $50? 0 -
Hey Duster - I guy this guy reblue a Winchester 1890 for me. He did a great job and is a great guy. He lives close by (in Upstate NY) so it was easy for me. Problem is, I cant remember his name or email (have a bad case or CRS) but I have it at home. I will post it for you tomorrow night, if you havent gotten it by then. 0 -
The guys gunbroker nick is dwshooter.
Here is one of his auctions:
http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=3804543
Visit me http://www.geocities.com/gunsmithlee0 -
I have heard that a cold blue called 44/40 is very good.I have seen it at gun shows and i know you can get it at www.brownells.com 0 -
Duster Brownells sells a bake on paint, don't do this the wifes oven though. One is a self lubricating Teflon-Moly, good stuff. The other is a laquer, makes for a tuff finish. Another option is powder coat this will last forever plus twenty years 0 -
Awesome info. Thanks a million. I think I'm gonna take Lee's guy up on his $50 blue job. I might just have to send him my S&W model 59 that's in serious need of some new blue. 0
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