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General discussion => Gun Building => Topic started by: WestBranchSusquehanna on April 25, 2017, 04:20:52 AM

Title: Inletting black
Post by: WestBranchSusquehanna on April 25, 2017, 04:20:52 AM
New to the group a few months now and through my research, I can't find an answer to this:
Have built a couple of LR's and am picking up a lot but does anyone have a "solution" to removing inletting black?
I will work a few hours and will use a hand cleaning orange on myself but trying alcohol, acetone and paint thinner, don't seem to work on removing from parts.  Wood I understand and it will be removed via carving.  Only thing that works for me is old fashioned elbow grease with a rag.
FYI purchased my inletting black from Dixon's but there is no label so don't know the brand.
Thanks,
Michael Kuriga

Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: lkipps54 on April 25, 2017, 06:02:58 AM
You need to get some candles, there the only way to go. Good luck with the black!
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: Stickburner on April 25, 2017, 06:13:56 AM
WD-40 works for me.  I spray some on a rag and wipe my hands, arms, face and any other place that shows.  I used to waste a bunch of time and paper towels trying to stay clean but it aint worth it.  I clean up when I stop for the day.
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: Mike Brooks on April 25, 2017, 02:28:41 PM
If you're getting it all over the place you're using too much.
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: Dennis Glazener on April 25, 2017, 02:47:14 PM
I hate the in letting black that I used! Made the biggest mess! I like using Prussian Blue from NAPA. Transfers good and cleans up easily and best of all it doesn't get smeared all over the wood. Like Mike says don't use a lot.
Dennis
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: deepcreekdale on April 25, 2017, 03:07:59 PM
Don't know what you are using that acetone doesn't remove, but I wouldn't use it. I use Jerrows, I think you can still get it from Track. One brush full should last for most of the gun. A little goes a long way. Removes from metal easily with acetone and even from wood if it is fairly smooth, won't get it all out of end grain though. Another option is to take a small, 1-2 ounce jar with a metal lid, punch a hole in it and make a wick out of a rag. fill it with mineral spirits and light. It makes a very smoky flame that will leave a nice mark as well. I know some people swear by candles and have great results, but I can never get enough smoke out of them.
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: Dennis Glazener on April 25, 2017, 03:39:57 PM
Candle soot works well but I just don't like leaving a lighted candle/oil lamp in my shop especially during hot weather! It's a pain to constantly have to re-light it.
Dennis
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: Mike Brooks on April 25, 2017, 03:45:03 PM
Don't know what you are using that acetone doesn't remove, but I wouldn't use it. I use Jerrows, I think you can still get it from Track. One brush full should last for most of the gun. A little goes a long way. Removes from metal easily with acetone and even from wood if it is fairly smooth, won't get it all out of end grain though. Another option is to take a small, 1-2 ounce jar with a metal lid, punch a hole in it and make a wick out of a rag. fill it with mineral spirits and light. It makes a very smoky flame that will leave a nice mark as well. I know some people swear by candles and have great results, but I can never get enough smoke out of them.
I'm on my 3rd container of Jarrows and I've only used about 1/4 of it. So, it took 350+ guns to use 2 1/4 containers..... Looks like 100+ guns per jar if used correctly.
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: moleeyes36 on April 25, 2017, 04:05:01 PM
Quite awhile ago someone on the forum, possibly Mark Elliot, mentioned using a dry erase marker.  It doesn't transfer as well in most cases as Jarrows, but it will work fine in many applications and cleans up with water.  I primarily use Jarrow's and like Mike Brooks said, a little bit goes a very long way.  Unless you build a lot of guns, one jar will probably last for more guns than you will ever build. 

Mole Eyes
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: WestBranchSusquehanna on April 25, 2017, 05:34:28 PM
Thanks for all the advice. 
I am judicial with my application of black and really don't get much on me or other parts of the guns but when I am finished, and wiping the part clean, such as a butt plate, it gets messy.
Will try the WD-40 and will include a container of Jarrows in my next order from TOW.
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: Bill Raby on April 25, 2017, 07:14:39 PM
   I must be doing something wrong. Used about a third of a container of Jarrows on one rifle. I would fold up a sheet of paper towel and put some on the corner. Then wipe it onto the gun part. Ended up getting all ratty pretty soon so I would start with a new one. I think most of it just soaked into the paper towel. What is a better way to do it? It does not last long at all when the cat knocks it off the workbench without a lid. My god what a mess!
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: Ky-Flinter on April 25, 2017, 07:24:50 PM
I use an oil lamp burning kerosene to blacken parts with soot for inletting.  I use a big pink eraser to remove soot from the wood.

For those using WD40 to remove inletting black.  Doesn't the WD40 soak into the wood?  Does it affect staining and finishing?

-Ron
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: D. Taylor Sapergia on April 25, 2017, 08:15:14 PM
I bought my first little bottle of Jarrows in 1979, and my second one last year.  I use a very small child's toothbrush to apply.  When it seems all used up, I apply two drops of WD40 to the brush and it's good for another rifle.
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: WKevinD on April 25, 2017, 08:31:02 PM
I went thru a half jar of Jarrows in three days, I use a trimmed down toothbrush and lightly dip the tip of the brush into the jar and mush it around the inside of the cap and use that for my pick up for an entire rifle.
The reason I went thru the half jarso quick is that I left the cap of and the shop mouse (mice) like it. I found there lil black footprints everywhere!  :-[
Kevin
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: gusd on April 25, 2017, 08:40:16 PM
I use Jarrows, one jar lasts many rifles. I apply with a small cheap artist or touch up
brush. Comes off hands with go-jo hand cleaner. ;)
Scraper takes it off wood.
Gus
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: ScottH on April 25, 2017, 09:03:59 PM
I have been using Jarrow's. I take one of those inexpensive soldering brushes with the metal handle (I think they cost about 60 or 70 cents each) and trim the bristles down to about 3/8" long with a scissors. Dab a tiny amount on the brush and I can mark parts for a ling time before it needs to be refreshed. The black wipes off metal pretty good with a paper towel for me.
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: StevenV on April 26, 2017, 12:29:21 AM
Try Dawn dish washing detergent for your hands and rubbing alcohol for you parts and wood both work great for me. One dab in the Jarrow's jar will all but do one gun. Get a brush dip in Jarrow's then smear in the bottom of empty baby food jar. Keep going back to baby food jar cover with aluminum foil if your worried about it drying out.            Steve
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: smallpatch on April 26, 2017, 04:28:16 AM
Inletting black IS a mess.  Don't care what Mike says.  I can be a yard away from the jar, and I swear it jumps on me.
I've been using an oil lamp for the last few years.  See no reason to change.
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: little joe on April 26, 2017, 04:40:50 AM
 Little oil burner making black smoke. Used motor oil and turpintine for fuel.
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: WadePatton on April 26, 2017, 05:20:24 AM
Oh, not "Jarrow's" afterall.  I went snooping 'round the web for price and availability-after messing with a candle and lamp a little bit just lately.

JERROW'S INLETTING BLACK

as found here: http://www.kokopelliproducts.com/inlet.html
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: Stickburner on April 26, 2017, 07:11:34 AM
I only use WD 40 for cleaning Jarrow's off metal parts and me.

I use a war paint brush, I think they call it a blush brush.  I trim the bristles back to about a quarter inch long, pick up a very little bit of black, and smear it around inside the jar lid to load the bristles.  At the end of the day I wrap the brush in a paper towel.  If the brush gets too dry I spray a little WD 40 on a  piece of glass and work it around until it softens up enough to suit me.  I seldon have to pick up more black off the lid.

I do not use WD 40 to clean the wood, I have always been able to scrape it clean.

I bought my first jar of Jarrow's back in the mid eighties for inletting supository gun stocks and probably used about three quarters of it before I gave it away this past March.  It goes a long ways.  I do try to use as little as I can get by with.

Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: Mike Brooks on April 26, 2017, 02:29:09 PM
There are several reasons I don't use anything with an open flame. 1) smokey open flam burning gives me a head ache. 2) If you saw the condition of my shop you wouldn't burn an open flame there either. 3) It takes too long to smoke parts compared to using Jerrows the way I do.
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: Tonyhd98 on May 09, 2017, 10:06:51 AM
Gentlemen, by far, a black (or any color you prefer) China marker is the most economical and very effective color transfer you'll find. It washes off with a variety of solvents; acetone, lacquer thinner, mineral spirits or whatever you have in your shop.
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: KentSmith on May 09, 2017, 01:14:08 PM
Get a small acid brush from Lowes for applying your transfer color. I use a candle these days
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: jerrywh on May 09, 2017, 07:57:30 PM
There are too many flammables in my shop. I am terrified of fire. I know of two shops that burned up when I was a mechanic.  That said soot is probably the best. I use my own mixture. I just mix a small amount of black artist's oil paint with some gun oil. If you put it on too heavy it doesn't tell you anything. There is a lot more to inletting than just taking off wood where the metal touches. Some times you might want to move the metal away from that spot where it touches. If you have a small gap in one side of a inlay you can move the inlay towards that gap and split the gap so it will not be noticeable on either side. There are a couple of guys on this forum who are so good at this it baffles my mind. Taylor for one.  One reason the so called old masters were so crude was they never had super glue.
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: Majorjoel on May 09, 2017, 08:57:05 PM
My latest build has a dark walnut stock.

I just went to my wife's make up box and found some light pink lipstick.

Working very well and it doesn't dry out or harden even after a day out in the open air.

Also just wipes off parts and wood with a paper towel or a Q tip! 
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: PPatch on May 09, 2017, 10:38:33 PM
At times there is a lot of combustibles in my shop too, and I use an oil lamp for my inletting black source. I am very careful to place the lamp so that it is by itself on the table and blocked from being slid off the table. I light it, blacken the part, then immediately blow the flame out. I never leave it burning for more than it takes to get the black on the part. There are two fire extinguishers suitable for an oil fire nearby. Still, I do worry about using the open flame in the shop, stuff happens.

Soot works for me though, better than anything I have yet tried.

dave




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Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: Mike Brooks on May 09, 2017, 11:13:48 PM
I'd take you up on your offer, but my current jar probably has 100 guns left in it and I doubt I'll do more than 25 more....
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: Ky-Flinter on May 09, 2017, 11:20:45 PM
And this reminds me that I have two (one black, one gold color) full jars of the Jarrow's inletting gunk that I never use. If anyone is interested I'll send both jars to you, you pay the postage.


I'll take them!  Will send PM.

-Ron
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: PPatch on May 09, 2017, 11:29:13 PM
And this reminds me that I have two (one black, one gold color) full jars of the Jarrow's inletting gunk that I never use. If anyone is interested I'll send both jars to you, you pay the postage.

I'll take them!  Will send PM.

-Ron

You got it Ron.

dave
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: oldtravler61 on May 09, 2017, 11:51:19 PM
 Ron Mike said he built almost 400 guns with one jar. What yeah going to do with two. You better get busy you got about 750 guns to do!!! Mike
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: Mike Brooks on May 09, 2017, 11:55:00 PM
Ron Mike said he built almost 400 guns with one jar. What yeah going to do with two. You better get busy you got about 750 guns to do!!! Mike
I have done 350+ on 2 3/4 jars.
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: Frank on May 10, 2017, 02:27:05 PM
I have had the same jar for over 20 years. Of course I have only built about 30 rifles.  ;D
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: Gaeckle on May 10, 2017, 04:30:40 PM
I use Jerrows.

I have an old soup can that I then transfer a very tiny amount on an acid brush to the bottom of the can, I smear it up on the sides a bit. When I need to apply the black I simply take the brush (it is always in the soup can) and apply tiny amounts on the item I need to add black to.

Because the soup can is open, the black will dry out. I simply add one drop of oil (something like 3 in 1 oil) to the can and swirl it around and the black can be used again, this allows for a minimal amount of mess.

I think the mess originates from the fact that folks will dip a brush into the jar of black and fully load up whatever item they are using to apply the black and then put that overloaded amount onto the item they intend to inlet. It takes a tiny, tiny amount to use and if it is a bit dry, the less messy it seems to be.
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: WestBranchSusquehanna on May 11, 2017, 02:54:11 AM
Well, I started something that I thought I'd get the answer to right away.  That being how to clean up inletting black.  Well, I just had a visit with my mentor Allen Martin, and he showed me how to clean up parts:  Spray 9  Yep, that cleaner you can pick up anywhere.  He goes to the sink and sprays the part and his hands and washes both with the stuff and all comes out squeaky clean.  (My words)  Seems too easy after all of this conversation on what to use and how. Huh?
Cheers,
Michael K.
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: Mike Brooks on May 11, 2017, 02:17:42 PM
Well, I started something that I thought I'd get the answer to right away.  That being how to clean up inletting black.  Well, I just had a visit with my mentor Allen Martin, and he showed me how to clean up parts:  Spray 9  Yep, that cleaner you can pick up anywhere.  He goes to the sink and sprays the part and his hands and washes both with the stuff and all comes out squeaky clean.  (My words)  Seems too easy after all of this conversation on what to use and how. Huh?
Cheers,
Michael K.
Well.... I said what I said because I never have anything to clean up.... ;)
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: Mattox Forge on May 20, 2017, 04:14:03 AM
I use an oil lamp. Gets black on quickly, and it is not greasy. I have used Prussian blue, but it is tedious to put on and blue. Yes you are sooty after an inletting session, but it comes off with dishwashing detergent. As for the stock, I don't bother removing it. The English original guns I have still have the inletting soot on the stocks under the inletted parts. The British gunsmiths just use a stick soaked in kerosene they det on fire. The oil lamp seems slightly safer to me. I understand some don't want fires in their shop though.

Mike
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: Old Ford2 on May 20, 2017, 03:23:06 PM
Inletting black..............Inletting black you say, my wife thinks I roll in it, to only put a small dab on a tow plate.
When I'm done I go to the car wash to get it off me. Ohhh I hates inletting black. >:( ::)

Fred
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: Daryl on May 20, 2017, 07:46:11 PM
I don't use any inletting black - Taylor does my inletting for me. ::)
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: eddillon on May 20, 2017, 09:06:09 PM
I bought my first little bottle of Jarrows in 1979, and my second one last year.  I use a very small child's toothbrush to apply.  When it seems all used up, I apply two drops of WD40 to the brush and it's good for another rifle.
I'm with Taylor.  Bought my first jar from The Mountain Man in Manitou Springs, Colorado in 1975 for my first Hawken build. In lasted until two years ago.  Then bought a jar from TOTW.  I think Jarrow's changed the formulation.  I liked the old jar more than the new one.  Both clean up well with mineral spirits.
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: Joe S. on May 20, 2017, 11:40:39 PM
I used a candle but found that to be a pain in the butt constantly going back and forth.Found lip stick to work well on the smaller parts like butt plate,pipes,lock,toe plate.Put a little on and tap the part,get your transfer and just move a little more around with your finger.Have a rag handy to clean your finger,all good.Once you get used to knowing how much is good Its not as messy as you would think,quess that would apply to what ever you use.
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: Marcruger on May 20, 2017, 11:51:13 PM
I chuckle when I see folks list all of the amazing uses for WD-40. 

I usually ask, "Hmmmmm.....would you use Kerosene In that situation?"

90 percent of folks reply something like, "Heck no." 

I then explain that WD-40 is predominantly Kerosene, and they invariably look shocked. 

My friend in Houston worked for the petrochemical industry, and they supplied WD-40 with their raw products. He knows the formula. 

Ever notice how it smells like Kerosene?  Yup. 

I once saw a list that included removing crayon from walls and cleaning stuck on matter from a baby highchair tray.  Youch! 

If you are cleaning your stock with WD-40, ask yourself the question.  If the answer is "yes", then all good. 

Hope this helps.  God Bless,   Marc
Title: Re: Inletting black
Post by: JCKelly on May 21, 2017, 06:44:27 PM
Mom left me several lifetimes' supply of candles.