Removing pitting from a blued surface?

FoghornLeghorn · July 29, 2014, 02:39 PM

I bought a used Henry Big Boy that has had some rust on the lever. The rust has already been cleaned off but there is pitting on the surface about the size of the diameter of a pea.

What can I use to smooth out the surface? Jewelers rouge on a dremel pad?

HiBC · July 29, 2014, 03:35 PM

About 90% of the time when someone thinks of applying a Dremel to a firearm it is a bad idea.Maybe 98%.

The pits are low spots.The only way to make them disappear is to lower the steel surface to the bottom of the pits.You can do that in a way that alters the contour,and it will show as a washed out low spot.Some methods,such as a fremel and pad,will cut on the high,clean steel,but at the same time,they will reach down and cut steel at the bottom of the pit.

My background is plastic injection molds.I have a loaf pan of polishing stones swimming in kerosene.I would select a polishing stone and use it about like a file to lower the surface.

Or,I might say "Bummer" and leave it.

Brian Pfleuger · July 30, 2014, 06:53 PM

I wonder if you could fill the pitting with JB weld and then blend/smooth it with polishing compound?

**4V50 Gary** · July 30, 2014, 08:05 PM

Pitting isn't removed. It's like a cavity. It won't go away.

Two options:

1) Tig weld the pittings to fill them in. File and then polish with progressively smoother emery. Reblue.

2) Use emery to remove the entire surface down to the bottom of the pitting. Reblue.

g.willikers · July 31, 2014, 08:36 AM

If the pitting is on the lower part of the lever, how about just doing like the old cowboy pokes.
Wrap it with leather, either with a whole piece or thong.
It will improve the appearance and protect your knuckles.

gyvel · July 31, 2014, 09:00 AM

Or you could contact Lou Imperato and inquire about purchasing a new lever.

July 29, 2014, 02:39 PM	#1
FoghornLeghorn Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2011 Posts: 961	Removing pitting from a blued surface? I bought a used Henry Big Boy that has had some rust on the lever. The rust has already been cleaned off but there is pitting on the surface about the size of the diameter of a pea. What can I use to smooth out the surface? Jewelers rouge on a dremel pad?

July 30, 2014, 06:53 PM	#3
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	I wonder if you could fill the pitting with JB weld and then blend/smooth it with polishing compound? __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

July 30, 2014, 08:05 PM	#4
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,841	Pitting isn't removed. It's like a cavity. It won't go away. Two options: 1) Tig weld the pittings to fill them in. File and then polish with progressively smoother emery. Reblue. 2) Use emery to remove the entire surface down to the bottom of the pitting. Reblue. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

July 31, 2014, 08:36 AM	#5
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	If the pitting is on the lower part of the lever, how about just doing like the old cowboy pokes. Wrap it with leather, either with a whole piece or thong. It will improve the appearance and protect your knuckles. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

July 31, 2014, 09:00 AM	#6
gyvel Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2009 Location: Northern AZ Posts: 7,172	Or you could contact Lou Imperato and inquire about purchasing a new lever. __________________ As always, YMMV. __________________________________________ MIIAA SIFE

July 29, 2014, 03:35 PM	#2
HiBC Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2006 Posts: 8,288	About 90% of the time when someone thinks of applying a Dremel to a firearm it is a bad idea.Maybe 98%. The pits are low spots.The only way to make them disappear is to lower the steel surface to the bottom of the pits.You can do that in a way that alters the contour,and it will show as a washed out low spot.Some methods,such as a fremel and pad,will cut on the high,clean steel,but at the same time,they will reach down and cut steel at the bottom of the pit. My background is plastic injection molds.I have a loaf pan of polishing stones swimming in kerosene.I would select a polishing stone and use it about like a file to lower the surface. Or,I might say "Bummer" and leave it.