Way to blacken/subdue a chrome bolt?

breakingcontact · January 13, 2013, 03:23 PM

Looking at a cheap shotgun. I can deal with the blue finish but the chrome bolt is too bright.

How can I color it gray/black or otherwise make it not stand out as chromed?

Bill DeShivs · January 13, 2013, 05:25 PM

There isn't much way. Chrome plating can not be reliably darkened, and paint will flake right off. The chrome can be stripped, but I'm sure it was applied to the bolt to reduce wear.

breakingcontact · January 13, 2013, 06:02 PM

This is a Maverick 88, I'm thinking it may be polished steel and not chromed.

hogdogs · January 13, 2013, 07:00 PM

Try removing it, cleaning with solvent and lay the exposed surface on a slice of raw potato for 24 hours etc...

Many folks like to do this to their pocket knife (stab into a tater to blacken"... I think they claim it actually creates some sort of hardened surface in the oxidizing process...

My son made me cringe when he did this as told to a brand-dang-new Case XX pocket knife...

It is also supposed to resist rust longer as this surface material is actually chemically different than the steel it once was...

Brent

Orphanedcowboy · January 13, 2013, 07:03 PM

I used naval jelly once to try and remove some freckling on a chrome mirror, it turned the chrome black and it never did recover

hogdogs · January 13, 2013, 07:13 PM

Orphan... you have 2 issues to think about... first off, if you forget to clean your naval long enough to have a build up enough to remove for polishing purposes... you need to address that...

And the second... Please refrain from considering it to be "jelly"

Brent

breakingcontact · January 13, 2013, 10:20 PM

Interesting. Thanks for the tip.

Some of these Mossberg and Mavericks have the bright bolt others (some Mossberg) have blackened bolts.

I don't want a bright shiny bolt on a defensive shotgun.

hogdogs · January 13, 2013, 10:30 PM

I will look at my 20 plus year old 500 right now as it is "bright" and see if it appears to be chrome...

Mine don't look like a mirror chromed surface... actually see brush marks horizontally in it... Is yours mirror finish? I know I have seen some guns lately (not sure of brand even) with the "spun" engine turned look...

I don't fret the look on a defensive arm... i ain't trying to be that invisible... if they flash a light at me, my eyes and even my skin will light me up plenty and I will release the sear at the light anyway...

Brent

breakingcontact · January 14, 2013, 08:05 AM

Looking at Mossberg 500, 590 and Maverick.

All 590s have the black/parkerized bolt.

500s seem to be a mix. Most with the polished bolt, some with a dark bolt (not sure of the actual finish, looks parkerized.

Maverick, I've only seen the polished bolt. Upon advice here and handling one yesterday I don't think they are chromed.

Think I'm going with at least a 500 if not a 590.

lubloy · January 26, 2013, 03:45 PM

take a good felt pen and have at'er easy to redo also

January 13, 2013, 03:23 PM	#1
breakingcontact Junior member Join Date: October 25, 2012 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 736	Way to blacken/subdue a chrome bolt? Looking at a cheap shotgun. I can deal with the blue finish but the chrome bolt is too bright. How can I color it gray/black or otherwise make it not stand out as chromed?

January 13, 2013, 05:25 PM	#2
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,981	There isn't much way. Chrome plating can not be reliably darkened, and paint will flake right off. The chrome can be stripped, but I'm sure it was applied to the bolt to reduce wear. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

January 13, 2013, 06:02 PM	#3
breakingcontact Junior member Join Date: October 25, 2012 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 736	This is a Maverick 88, I'm thinking it may be polished steel and not chromed.

January 13, 2013, 07:00 PM	#4
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	Try removing it, cleaning with solvent and lay the exposed surface on a slice of raw potato for 24 hours etc... Many folks like to do this to their pocket knife (stab into a tater to blacken"... I think they claim it actually creates some sort of hardened surface in the oxidizing process... My son made me cringe when he did this as told to a brand-dang-new Case XX pocket knife... It is also supposed to resist rust longer as this surface material is actually chemically different than the steel it once was... Brent

January 13, 2013, 07:03 PM	#5
Orphanedcowboy Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2009 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 194	I used naval jelly once to try and remove some freckling on a chrome mirror, it turned the chrome black and it never did recover

January 13, 2013, 07:13 PM	#6
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	Orphan... you have 2 issues to think about... first off, if you forget to clean your naval long enough to have a build up enough to remove for polishing purposes... you need to address that... And the second... Please refrain from considering it to be "jelly" Brent

January 13, 2013, 10:20 PM	#7
breakingcontact Junior member Join Date: October 25, 2012 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 736	Interesting. Thanks for the tip. Some of these Mossberg and Mavericks have the bright bolt others (some Mossberg) have blackened bolts. I don't want a bright shiny bolt on a defensive shotgun.

January 13, 2013, 10:30 PM	#8
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	I will look at my 20 plus year old 500 right now as it is "bright" and see if it appears to be chrome... Mine don't look like a mirror chromed surface... actually see brush marks horizontally in it... Is yours mirror finish? I know I have seen some guns lately (not sure of brand even) with the "spun" engine turned look... I don't fret the look on a defensive arm... i ain't trying to be that invisible... if they flash a light at me, my eyes and even my skin will light me up plenty and I will release the sear at the light anyway... Brent

January 14, 2013, 08:05 AM	#9
breakingcontact Junior member Join Date: October 25, 2012 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 736	Looking at Mossberg 500, 590 and Maverick. All 590s have the black/parkerized bolt. 500s seem to be a mix. Most with the polished bolt, some with a dark bolt (not sure of the actual finish, looks parkerized. Maverick, I've only seen the polished bolt. Upon advice here and handling one yesterday I don't think they are chromed. Think I'm going with at least a 500 if not a 590.

January 26, 2013, 03:45 PM	#10
lubloy Junior Member Join Date: January 26, 2013 Posts: 1	take a good felt pen and have at'er easy to redo also