AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Gun Building => Topic started by: 120RIR on February 07, 2021, 11:06:56 PM
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I would like to do some light-moderate aging on a replacement barrel band for a converted M.1816 Springfield that was a cheap local flea market find. Can anyone provide some advice? I'm not looking for any heavy pitting but just to imitate that light corrosion/black surface that would go with the rest of the musket. Thanks!
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Apply cold blue to the part allow to dry then put it in Clorox. You can watch it rust up. Pull your part, card with 4/0 steel wool and neutralize with a baking soda paste. This will pit the metal but no where near what a Clorox/water boil will pit.
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Interesting. Will the Clorox reduce the near-orange color of fresh cold blue rust?
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The cold bluing and Clorox treatment is interesting and tagged for future use.
However, I have a question. Clorox is strongly basic and baking soda is also basic. How would the baking soda neutralize the Clorox? Wouldn't vinegar be a better neutralizing agent?
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That’s a pretty basic question. I think folks are used to thinking of baking soda as a sort of generic neutralizer and also think only acids attack metal.
Neutralizers are typically a weak opposite of what the primary treatment was. If strong there’s a good chance the pH will swing the other way. Vinegar is a great choice as a neutralizer for strong bases.
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After the cold blue/clorox treatment, give the barrel a good wiping with phosphoric acid. The acid may change the color a bit toward a mottled light gray if done vigorously. The important aspect, to me, is that it leaves the steel with a phosphate coating that will help with rust resistance.
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Perhaps I should clarify a bit. I'm also looking to mimic the dark brown-black light corrosion and dirt buildup/layer and not just necessarily replicate light pitting. The musket was an attic find and actually in decent shape, not cut-down, etc. but for some reason just missing the front barrel band (and the ramrod). Thanks!
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Consider burying it in the garden in the spring for a bit, with the inside of the barrel band shellacked. Take it out after a couple weeks and hit it with a fine wire wheel on the drill press.
I coulda been mean and said chicken manure is what really works. ::)
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I coulda been mean and said chicken manure is what really works.
Actually, I had a friend who restored antique clocks. He buried parts in the garden with dog @#$%/!! to age them.
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It's the ammonia, any farmer will tell you.
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Hmmm...no dogs or chickens around here. Will bear or deer @#$%/!! work as well? ;)
I'll try a little ammonia as well.
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Just pee on the garden a lot. If you are dehydrated some, even better.
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You may try covering it with black powder fouling for a few days to get a bit of rust - then wash it off, cover it with cooking oil, and heat it up till the oil begins to smoke. A shade of brown will grow darker and darker until it turns black - then of course if you get it too hot the black will burn off, but you can let it cool a bit, add more oil, and hit it again.