"Do it yourself bluing?"

Tracer · January 15, 2002, 08:29 AM

I have a Russian Mak that need refinishing,but the gun does not justify spending very much money on .Is there an alternative to $100+ refinish jobs?
thanks

Walt Sherrill · January 15, 2002, 09:47 AM

I have an old "shooter" Luger, with no collector's value. I've stripped it down to white metal (using the Birchwood Casey rust and blue remover) and then reblued it using Brownell's Ox-Pho Blue. It took a while, with the bluing compound applied in very thin coats (using an almost-dry patch), but it now looks like it had never been reblued, with a nice dark blue (almost black) finish.

Ox-Pho Blue, which was recommended to me by George Stringer, moderator of TFL's "The Smithy" forum, is the only cold blue I've ever really had success with, although I've found that using several other brands in conjunction with Ox-Pho blue gives very nice results, when "patching" or "repairing" bad spots.

I bought a BIG bottle, but you can probably get buy with a small one. Most of the stuff you'll find in gunshops and sporting goods stores simply won't work... or will come off the first time you clean the gun.

Jim V · January 15, 2002, 03:22 PM

Meander over to www.brownells.com and check out their re-finishing supplies. They have a couple of "spray on and bake" finishes that are reported to wear well.

HerrJaegermeister · January 15, 2002, 10:29 PM

I have used Brownell's Oxpho Blue as well. It is the best "cold blue" out there. The Birchwood Casey and other products are not in the same league.

Here is a hint: Try heating the metal a bit with a hot air gun, but do not get it too hot, just very warm. The heat will allow a deeper blue. Just warm and then apply. You will need a few coats for it to really take.

It really does produce a nice black surface that is quite wear-resistant.

If that doesn't work, get that Mak chromed with pearl grips!!!

January 15, 2002, 08:29 AM	#1
Tracer Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2000 Posts: 154	"Do it yourself bluing?" I have a Russian Mak that need refinishing,but the gun does not justify spending very much money on .Is there an alternative to $100+ refinish jobs? thanks

January 15, 2002, 03:22 PM	#3
Jim V Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 1999 Location: SE Michigan - USA Posts: 4,038	Meander over to www.brownells.com and check out their re-finishing supplies. They have a couple of "spray on and bake" finishes that are reported to wear well. __________________ *MOLON LABE* If it ain't metal, single stack & single action, it ain't a 1911 no matter what it looks like. 1911 Forum THE TUBBY CURMUDGEON

January 15, 2002, 10:29 PM	#4
HerrJaegermeister Senior Member Join Date: March 19, 2001 Location: Sioux City, Iowa Posts: 126	Try some heat too I have used Brownell's Oxpho Blue as well. It is the best "cold blue" out there. The Birchwood Casey and other products are not in the same league. Here is a hint: Try heating the metal a bit with a hot air gun, but do not get it too hot, just very warm. The heat will allow a deeper blue. Just warm and then apply. You will need a few coats for it to really take. It really does produce a nice black surface that is quite wear-resistant. If that doesn't work, get that Mak chromed with pearl grips!!!

January 15, 2002, 09:47 AM	#2
Walt Sherrill Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 1999 Location: Winston-Salem, NC USA Posts: 6,348	I have an old "shooter" Luger, with no collector's value. I've stripped it down to white metal (using the Birchwood Casey rust and blue remover) and then reblued it using Brownell's Ox-Pho Blue. It took a while, with the bluing compound applied in very thin coats (using an almost-dry patch), but it now looks like it had never been reblued, with a nice dark blue (almost black) finish. Ox-Pho Blue, which was recommended to me by George Stringer, moderator of TFL's "The Smithy" forum, is the only cold blue I've ever really had success with, although I've found that using several other brands in conjunction with Ox-Pho blue gives very nice results, when "patching" or "repairing" bad spots. I bought a BIG bottle, but you can probably get buy with a small one. Most of the stuff you'll find in gunshops and sporting goods stores simply won't work... or will come off the first time you clean the gun.