Coldbluing

D

Doug.38PR

Moderator
over time as bluing seems to wear off, the following seems to happen. The blue turns to brown and then to a rough kind of orange on the spots where my hand has had contact with the gun. On holster contact areas over time it simply seems to wear off.
I understand no matter how much lubricant or what kind you put on the gun, bluing will inevitably come off in these areas. For the discolored areas, should I take a lead away cloth and completely take the discolored bluing off down to the bare metal and then apply cold blue?
 
"...where my hand has had contact with the gun..." That'd be the salts and oils from your hand. Bluing is a controlled rusting process. You're seeing the bluing aging from your sweaty hands. It's the same as the patina you see on antique firearms.
Yes, bluing does wear off from repeated holstering. It's normal. Leather is rather abrasive. Lubing won't help either.
A lead away cloth isn't likely to remove bluing. A rust remover will. CLR, Naval Jelly or any other rust remover. Cold bluing isn't the best thing to re-do a whole firearm though. It's for spot touch ups. Mind you, the gel type of cold bluing should give you a more even finish. Still not as good as hot bluing. It is a whole bunch less expensive though.
 
cold-blue

Sir:
Oxidation is a natural consequence of steel. And the finest blue was "rust - Blue."
Muzzle loaders (real ones) were "browned." rusted!
Yea, cold blue will turn brown with age, but this is just oxidation.
Some of the "hot-blued" guns won't turn brown - unless allowed to rust first.
The real cure is to get it hot blued by an expert.
The world is full of experts - (an "ex" is a "has-been" and a "spert" a drip under pressure).:)
Harry B.
P.S. The most natural thing for steel to do is "oxidize" - or - rust!
 
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