Rust Blueing turned black?

[longhunter1757]

OK, first attempt at rust blueing. The smoothness is fine, just what I was looking for but the color is very dark grey to black and not blue. I'm aware that back then it wasn't called blueing but blackening but is this a correct color? It looks more like manganese parkerizing to me. I like it but if it's not a correct color it's got to go.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Rich Baker

[Acer Saccharum]

I've done but one job in rust blue, and it is indeed very black. I applied acid, carded, and boiled the barrel five or six applications, if I recall correctly. It's a lot of work, but the results are very nice and VERY durable. I think the key is multiple applications. And a stainless wire carding wheel (from Brownell's) is a vital piece of equipment.

Tom

[Rasch Chronicles]

Holy Smokes Tom,

That's a real beauty!

Best Regards,
Albert A Rasch
Albert A Rasch In Afghanistan

[BrentD]

Tom,
That photo should be illegal with out about 20 more to back it up.  Way too much of a tease. 

That is beautiful work and a very nice rust blue to be sure. 

Rust blue is black - over time it will change a little becoming perhaps a little more blue sometimes - depending on the type of steel I suppose.  And eventually, what is blue or what is black, meet in the middle at "plum". 

[Dphariss]

OK, first attempt at rust blueing. The smoothness is fine, just what I was looking for but the color is very dark grey to black and not blue. I'm aware that back then it wasn't called blueing but blackening but is this a correct color? It looks more like manganese parkerizing to me. I like it but if it's not a correct color it's got to go.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Rich Baker

Rust blue is not always and in fact generally is not blue. There are two forms of iron oxide that we deal with here. Red and black. One is "brown" and the other is "blue" but the actual colors on metal can vary.
Rust blue as the boiling and carding progress, moves from "gun metal", through grey that deepens to the color below.
The trigger guard, barrel, under rib and upper rod pipe are rust blued.
The entry pipe and trigger are heat blued.


Dan

[frogwalking]

Dan,

That case hardening color is not hard on the eyes either.

[Dphariss]

Dan,

That case hardening color is not hard on the eyes either.

Its from Wyoming Armory in Cody. The last jobs on L&Rs (this lock plate is mild steel) are brighter than this but they can process it further and make it look more muted if that is what is wanted.
I have had 7 locks and 3 percussion breeches done and have never seen the slightest problem.

Dan

[longhunter1757]

Acer it should almost be a crime for a gun to be that beautiful. I agree with BrentD. That deserves way more pictures.
Dphariss - that's pretty much what mine looks like. Perhaps a bit blacker. I assume that means I got a correct color so it will remain that way. It is quite nice and most of all, my son likes it and it's his gun so it's his choice.

Thanks all!!!

[keweenaw]

Rust bluing is supposed to be black!  The boiling turns the brown ferric iron compounds to black ferrous compounds.  The bright blues one sometimes sees on european pieces or colt revolvers are really temper colors where the metal is heated to the appropriate temperature to turn blue.  This finish doesn't provide the rust protection to the metal that a good brown or rust blue provides.  The later two tie up the surface iron on the piece in other compounds that resist further easy rusting.

Tom

[longhunter1757]

Thanks Tom!
I'm familiar with "black rust"/magnetite. I guess in my case I was going off the term "blue" hence I was expecting that color. When it turned black I was concerned. While I wish it had turned out like Acer's gun I'm still happy with what I got. jsut wasn't sure it was correct.

Rich

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Rust blue changes it's colour depending upon the light in which it is viewed.  At times, there is no question that the finish is black, and at others, there is a blue cast to it.  Tom's example certainly gives the impression of blue.  Perhaps the chemicals that are used in the process affect the colour too.

[Dave W]

Rich,

Did you boil the parts in distilled water or plain tap water?  I rust blued some parts using LMF Barrel Brown and followed the directions to boil in distilled water (prior to carding) and got great results.  I would call my color a very, very, very deep gray/black.  The same color you see on old double barreled shotguns.

Dave

[Acer Saccharum]

My rust blue looks really black in daylight, with a slight hint of blue. Mostly black. Photography can play tricks with color. I could photo this gun in different light, and then the color would look entirely different.

[Dphariss]

Rich,

Did you boil the parts in distilled water or plain tap water?  I rust blued some parts using LMF Barrel Brown and followed the directions to boil in distilled water (prior to carding) and got great results.  I would call my color a very, very, very deep gray/black.  The same color you see on old double barreled shotguns.

Dave

I use tap water. Comes out of a river actually they add chlorine and I am sure its also filtered. Can't tell the results from using distilled so saw no reason to keep using distilled.
I do make sure its well aerated when I spray it into the bucket for transport to the boil tank.
Dan

[greybeard]

If you are after traditional browning keep it away from hot water. Bob

[longhunter1757]

DaveW - I used tap water. Actually well water and as Dan said, made sure it was well aerated. The finish is very even. No spotching at all. Just real dark. There is a slight hint of blue to it in the right light. I'm guessing mine looks pretty similar to yours. A very deep gray/black.

Greybeard - I was going for blue not brown.

I think I know why this did this. I didn't take the parts to a high polish. More like around 220 so I didn't get a real fine satin finish like Acer got on his. I'm happy with it and so is my son so it stays.  I did decide to do the screws and such in a different color blue for a contrast like I've seen a lot of you do on here.

Thanks all!!!

Rich