Rust Bluing: Can You Do It At Home? Part II

by
posted on September 10, 2012
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
bs_2015_fs.jpg (20)

Read Rust Bluing: Can You Do It At Home? Part 1

Once the red oxide converts to black (this will be obvious to the naked eye), it’s time to “card” off (remove) the excess rust. Wearing your gloves and using a soft wire brush, a wheel or degreased steel wool, you basically scrape the steel until all of the loose black rust is removed. Don’t use too much force or you might remove the finish that you’ve worked so hard to establish.

Now we re-coat the steel in solution, using a little less solution each time, and let it rust again. We don’t apply the solution more than once after the first cycle. When the rust forms, re-boil and re-card. This process is repeated anywhere from five to 12 times until you see the finish that you’re looking for.

Once the desired finish is achieved, liberally coat the steel in oil and let it sit for at least 24 hours.

The Verdict
Once we got the water situation figured out, rust bluing went exactly as the instructions said it would. The result is a nice, satin finish and is attractive and durable. It takes plenty of time and effort, but minimal equipment cost. Rust bluing really is a finish that the home hobbyist can use to refinish steel firearms or components.

Next time, we’ll see how we do on a real firearm.

Latest

New World Screwworm
New World Screwworm

First U.S. Citizen Contracts New World Screwworm

On Aug. 24 HHS confirmed a Maryland resident—who recently traveled to El Salvador—is the first documented human case of New World Screwworm (NWS) in the United States. Presence of the parasitic larvae (maggots) was confirmed on Aug. 4 after studies conducted by the CDC and the Maryland Department of Health.

Thermal Hogs: Armasight After Dark

In the Red River region of East Texas and Oklahoma, Brian McCombie sorts heat signatures with Armasight thermal optics.

How to Navigate the Backcountry Without Batteries

Whether it’s a lack of connectivity, or the dreaded dead battery, things can get hairy when the electronics aren’t working and you are deep in the unknown. We look at some simple means of finding direction to be used as a backup to electronic devices.

Largest Crowd Ever Attends B&C Club 32nd Big Game Awards

More than 550 people attended the Boone and Crockett Club (B&C) Buck Buckner 32nd Big Game Awards events in Springfield, Mo., in late July. The triennial event celebrates the most impressive animals accepted into the club’s record book in all 38 categories.

First Look: Sitka Mercury Pant

When temperatures climb, Sitka’s Mercury Pant are designed to keep hunters cool and comfortable.

New for 2025: Mendoza RM22

Mendoza Firearms, a distinguished Mexican arms manufacturer with a legacy dating back to 1911, is proud to announce the availability of its RM22 semi-automatic rifles in the United States.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.