Bluing discoloration Problem -Fixes ???

Metal god · November 24, 2022, 06:30 PM

Hey guys , I have this issue with a couple revolvers that sat for like 20 years . They sat out open in the safe with just some Pledge on them as a preservative .

These are two different firearms and before doing anything about this I thought I'd ask here first . I'm a SS guy and have very few blued firearms and shoot none of them . I really like the look of a nice blued revolver but I simply like the lower maintenance of a SS firearm more haha .

I gave them a quick wipe and that did nothing , Is this a big deal or a little polish/rubbing and all is good ?

Thanks MG

Bill DeShivs · November 24, 2022, 07:02 PM

A little squirt of WD 40 and wiping will take care of it.

RickB · November 24, 2022, 10:40 PM

Pledge?
"Although furniture products like Pledge are good at cleaning furniture, the oils quickly evaporate, leaving little to no protective coating on the furniture finish."
If a solvent cleaner doesn't work, try Flitz polish.

Metal god · November 24, 2022, 11:09 PM

Old pledge had wax in it or wax like substance , not sure what’s in it now . It’s why water would beed up on it for awhile . It’s an old trick from the 70’s . I do not recommend it now .

Maybe I should spray some more pledge on them lol

**Mal H** · November 25, 2022, 01:59 PM

I've been using Renaissance Wax on firearms (wood and metal parts) that just sit in the safe. So far, so good. I can't tell any difference from when they were first waxed.

**44 AMP** · November 25, 2022, 02:57 PM

Clean the metal, remove all old oil, wax, grease, solvent carrier, degrease it....

(including under the wood)

then oil and rub a bit see if the old finish doesn't return....

I've had guns stored in foam lined cases show discolored finishes, where the foam has, over time, "sucked" the oil off the metal, leaving the blue finish uneven to the eye.

Re-oiling restores it, or, has for me, so far, so try that and see..

rodfac · November 27, 2022, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Clean the metal, remove all old oil, wax, grease, solvent carrier, degrease it....
(including under the wood)
then oil and rub a bit see if the old finish doesn't return....
I've had guns stored in foam lined cases show discolored finishes, where the foam has, over time, "sucked" the oil off the metal, leaving the blue finish uneven to the eye. Re-oiling restores it, or, has for me, so far, so try that and see..

Good advice...has worked for me. Rod

Metal god · November 27, 2022, 11:07 PM

Thanks guys ? I’ll give those a try . Wait what breaks down wax but not the finish on the firearm ?

jetinteriorguy · November 28, 2022, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metal god

Thanks guys ? I’ll give those a try . Wait what breaks down wax but not the finish on the firearm ?

If you can find it 3M wax and grease cleaner. An easier one to find is 3M adhesive remover, it’s very similar to the wax and grease cleaner, also very mild solvent that hasn’t ever messed up any of my blued revolvers.

**JohnKSa** · November 28, 2022, 09:42 AM

Most petroleum based solvents should remove wax.

**4V50 Gary** · December 3, 2022, 08:33 PM

Once the wax is removed, another vote for Renaissance Wax if you're not going to chute it. If you're going to chute it, use RIG gun grease (cheaper cost). Apply and rub in with clean cotton cloth.

**44 AMP** · December 14, 2022, 02:35 PM

so, did cleaning and re-oiling restore the finish?? or not??

Metal god · December 14, 2022, 02:41 PM

Haven’t got to them yet , been very busy and became less concerned after reading comments in this thread . But point taken , I’ll see how cleaning them works this weekend.

November 24, 2022, 06:30 PM	#1
Metal god Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2012 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 6,494	Bluing discoloration Problem -Fixes ??? Hey guys , I have this issue with a couple revolvers that sat for like 20 years . They sat out open in the safe with just some Pledge on them as a preservative . These are two different firearms and before doing anything about this I thought I'd ask here first . I'm a SS guy and have very few blued firearms and shoot none of them . I really like the look of a nice blued revolver but I simply like the lower maintenance of a SS firearm more haha . I gave them a quick wipe and that did nothing , Is this a big deal or a little polish/rubbing and all is good ? Thanks MG __________________ If Jesus had a gun , he'd probably still be alive ! I almost always write my posts regardless of content in a jovial manor and intent . If that's not how you took it , please try again .

November 24, 2022, 07:02 PM	#2
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,856	A little squirt of WD 40 and wiping will take care of it. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

November 24, 2022, 10:40 PM	#3
RickB Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2000 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 8,407	Pledge? "Although furniture products like Pledge are good at cleaning furniture, the oils quickly evaporate, leaving little to no protective coating on the furniture finish." If a solvent cleaner doesn't work, try Flitz polish. __________________ Runs off at the mouth about anything 1911 related on this site and half the time is flat out wrong.

November 24, 2022, 11:09 PM	#4
Metal god Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2012 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 6,494	Old pledge had wax in it or wax like substance , not sure what’s in it now . It’s why water would beed up on it for awhile . It’s an old trick from the 70’s . I do not recommend it now . Maybe I should spray some more pledge on them lol __________________ If Jesus had a gun , he'd probably still be alive ! I almost always write my posts regardless of content in a jovial manor and intent . If that's not how you took it , please try again . Last edited by Metal god; November 24, 2022 at 11:50 PM.

November 25, 2022, 02:57 PM	#6
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 26,485	Clean the metal, remove all old oil, wax, grease, solvent carrier, degrease it.... (including under the wood) then oil and rub a bit see if the old finish doesn't return.... I've had guns stored in foam lined cases show discolored finishes, where the foam has, over time, "sucked" the oil off the metal, leaving the blue finish uneven to the eye. Re-oiling restores it, or, has for me, so far, so try that and see.. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

November 25, 2022, 01:59 PM	#5
Mal H Staff Join Date: March 20, 1999 Location: Somewhere in the woods of Northern Virginia Posts: 16,839	I've been using Renaissance Wax on firearms (wood and metal parts) that just sit in the safe. So far, so good. I can't tell any difference from when they were first waxed.

November 27, 2022, 11:07 PM	#8
Metal god Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2012 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 6,494	Thanks guys ? I’ll give those a try . Wait what breaks down wax but not the finish on the firearm ? __________________ If Jesus had a gun , he'd probably still be alive ! I almost always write my posts regardless of content in a jovial manor and intent . If that's not how you took it , please try again .

November 28, 2022, 09:42 AM	#10
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 24,457	Most petroleum based solvents should remove wax. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

December 3, 2022, 08:33 PM	#11
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,615	Once the wax is removed, another vote for Renaissance Wax if you're not going to chute it. If you're going to chute it, use RIG gun grease (cheaper cost). Apply and rub in with clean cotton cloth. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

December 14, 2022, 02:35 PM	#12
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 26,485	so, did cleaning and re-oiling restore the finish?? or not?? __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

December 14, 2022, 02:41 PM	#13
Metal god Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2012 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 6,494	Haven’t got to them yet , been very busy and became less concerned after reading comments in this thread . But point taken , I’ll see how cleaning them works this weekend. __________________ If Jesus had a gun , he'd probably still be alive ! I almost always write my posts regardless of content in a jovial manor and intent . If that's not how you took it , please try again .

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