The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - what to use when cleaning up/polishing an old barrel?

BerdanSS · June 2, 2013, 12:26 AM

Got an old, old shotgun I'd like to clean up. From what I've seen it really doesn't have any monetary value so don't panic. The barrel has roughly 20% original bluing left, about another 30% has gone browned/plum-brown and the rest looks like polished stainless.

Not a scratch, or one single swirl mark on the entire barrel...anywhere. What do I use on it to remove everything to make it a consistent finish (possibly in preparation for bluing (proper bluing) down the road) 0000 steel wool always leaves pale "thin" blue tint, along with thousands of tiny micro scratches and swirl marks. I eventually want to restore it back to original condition, and want a smooth factory look finish. Don't want it to look like a bubba job.

Thanks

PS the rest of the gun (receiver, magazine tube and small parts are in pretty much the same condition.

June 2, 2013, 12:26 AM	#1
BerdanSS Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2011 Location: to close to other houses Posts: 1,176	what to use when cleaning up/polishing an old barrel? Got an old, old shotgun I'd like to clean up. From what I've seen it really doesn't have any monetary value so don't panic. The barrel has roughly 20% original bluing left, about another 30% has gone browned/plum-brown and the rest looks like polished stainless. Not a scratch, or one single swirl mark on the entire barrel...anywhere. What do I use on it to remove everything to make it a consistent finish (possibly in preparation for bluing (proper bluing) down the road) 0000 steel wool always leaves pale "thin" blue tint, along with thousands of tiny micro scratches and swirl marks. I eventually want to restore it back to original condition, and want a smooth factory look finish. Don't want it to look like a bubba job. Thanks PS the rest of the gun (receiver, magazine tube and small parts are in pretty much the same condition.