Plain steel - no blue?

A

ATTICUS

New member
I stripped the old bluing off a beater S&W model 36 Last night and was thinking that it looks far better stripped than blued. Why couldn't a guy simply polish it bright, coat it with Tetra/CLP/Turtle wax or some other wonder lube and leave it as is? This isn't a daily carry or regularly used piece. Waddya think?

Some additional background: I've tried Oxpho blue on several guns now and can't seem to find any rhyme or reason in it's effectiveness. I've dipped, dapped, swabbed, drowned, buffed, burnished, prayed, cursed, etc - all with SLIGHTLY different results. I've followed the instruction on the bottle and I've followed tips listed on TFL. From one angle the bluing may look barely OK, and from another angle it might look like bare metal with a slight blue tint to it. Am I doing something wrong or is that just the nature of the product?
 
Atticus, having time on his hands, has been working on his guns

It will rust way faster despite the lubrication. That's why they don't make or sell guns "in the white" except for purposes of refinishing. If you like the gun's look, have it finished in hard chrome.

Preparation is the most important factor in using the cold bluing products. Thoroughly prep the surface with stainless steel wool, if you can get it. Then degrease completely. I have found that steel wool makes the best applicator. Also, different steels will take on different colors.

Regards.
 
I'll degrease that baby till it's drier than .....well...dry. What do ya'll think about using a hairdryer to heat the metal. I read another about that trick on another thread and figured I might try that as well.
 
why cold? cheap spray and bake at Brownells,teflon, earth brown,
many nice colors BUT be sure you degrease completely!!!!:D
 
Well, US Firearms has the China Camp model in "Silver Steel." At first I thought it was their term for stainless or some type of plating, but no, it is bare chrome moly with a wire brush texture, but no protective finish at all. It will require meticulous care or it is going to get "antique" looking very soon. So will yours.
 
By golly, that was it. I assumed that naval jelly, emory cloth, and steel wool would have removed everything but the steel. I cleaned a spot with acetone and the effect was dramatically different. Thanks for the tip.
 
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