Making a barrel grey

[Garyrad]

Hi, just looking for some info on making a barrel grey. I saw something posted on here a few months ago and it said to use something called oxphos found at a paint store. I can’t find anything about it on line. Any help would be great.
Thanks, Gary

[rich pierce]

At the upper right in each forum area like Gun Building is a search window. If you type oxphos in there you will get what you’re looking for.

One of the quirks or features of our platform is that for me, it works best if I search inside the right forum area. Gun building is the choice for this topic.

[Eric Krewson]

Any cold blue will work, Birchwood Casey Perma Blue works better than Oxpho blue for me, I think they sell the Birchwood Casey stuff at Walmart.

Blue your part and rub it back to gray with steel wool, real easy.

[t.caster]

Eric nailed it. Easy peasy!

[taterbug]

or are you looking for something that creates an iron phosphate finish?  It is more of a grey finish.  There is something used before painting steel, I believe it often referred to as 'ospho'.  And the end result may be similar to the above "Oxpho" method. 

Not sure how durable or useful for gun parts, I've never used it for that. 

Others have used some different chemicals to create a matte grey finish.  Some of those methods have been frowned upon, but I've never used them either. 

[Not English]

I've also used the brass black that Kibler used to sell with excellent results. I don't think Kibler carries it any more, but it is available through a brass restoration/replacement hardware company. The name escapes me, but they are easy to find online.

[Garyrad]

Rich thanks for putting my post in the right spot, I was posting it on my phone before work and poked the wrong spot. Thanks everyone else for the input. I tried the brass tarnishing solution it's not exactly what I am looking for. The osphos method sounds interesting. I am assuming you have to rust the parts than apply osphos. Is this correct?
Thanks Gary

[Clint]

Ospho, fozz, and other rust preventing solutions are based on phosphoric acid. This acid converts iron oxides into iron phosphates and is used on steel as a pre prime. Applied to clean steel turns the metal grey, but applied over rust turns the metal black. I use it on ornamental iron work and I also use it as a quench medium for lock parts. buy it in the paint section at big box stores.

[Rick Rhodes]

I've heard Apple cider vinegar works but I haven't tried it yet

[Beaverman]

I've heard Apple cider vinegar works but I haven't tried it yet

It works but takes forever!

[Martin S.]

Any cold blue will work, Birchwood Casey Perma Blue works better than Oxpho blue for me, I think they sell the Birchwood Casey stuff at Walmart.

Blue your part and rub it back to gray with steel wool, real easy.

Ed Wenger showed us how to do this at the NMLRA workshop last year.

He used a light spray of WD-40, IIRC, on the steel wool to rub it back until you got to your desired color.

It was so easy, even I could do it.

[Steeltrap]

Jim Kibler sold a product that I have used. I think it was similar to this: https://kiblerslongrifles.com/collections/finishing-supplies/products/jax-black-darkener-recommended-for-iron-steel-parts?variant=39355444199542

I've used it on a re-done GM barrel and a pistol. I liked the outcome.

[Eric Krewson]

One thing I have found out about grey barrels is the finish is not very durable, just a heads up if you didn't already know this. The gray will rub off in select spots like where the butt plate touches the ground when you load.

Here is the same barrel perhaps 10 years down the road with a lot of woods time, I like the patina that formed. The barrel was always kept well oiled.

[Steeltrap]

Eric, I like that look. It looks like the useful tool it was ment to be.