Author Topic: Faux twist barrel finish  (Read 5701 times)

Offline Curtis

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Faux twist barrel finish
« on: March 01, 2019, 09:07:56 AM »
This is a somewhat abbreviated recount of a method I used in a attempt to create a finish reminiscent of a twist steel barrel.  Here is a photo of a pair of Damascus Manton barrels I have - they are Damascus, not twist but they helped give me inspiration as I imagined what the colors may have been when new.



I experimented with different barrel stubs, and tried a dozen different things until I settled on something I thought I would like.  Here are some of the tests that survived - not necessarily the pattern I wanted but looking for effects:



I ended up using a process that was a bit different than some I have read described.  (Dave P. (Smart Dog) gave a great description how he achieved a faux twist finish)  I first browned the barrels using a 10 percent solution of Birchwood Casey hot brown in water, heated the barrel and scrubbed the solution on with some denim scraps.  I carded with a wire wheel between several coats and got this:



Then the barrels were painted with Dykem, which I found to be an excellent resist for ferric chloride for up to almost an hour.  I tried various things I had in the shop, Dykem worked the best and was easy to work with, though smelly.  Here is what the first round of Dykem stripe looked like - the barrel is browned, it doesn't show well in the photo.  Anyone want a purple tiger-stripe barrel finish?  ;D





Then I placed the barrel in a cardboard box lined with plastic and sprayed ferric chloride on it with a spray bottle.  I  sprayed it again every few minutes and used an acid brush to recycle some of F.C solution that settled on the plastic back on the barrel.



Leaving the dykem in place, I blued the exposed steel with Brownell's Oxpho blue, then removed the dykem mask with acetone.  I then took an acid brush that I cut a ragged edge on to make random fine lines, and painted another round of dykem in a smaller, more random pattern with a greater slant.  The blue doesn't show well in the photo, but it was nice and dark:



Next came another round of ferric chloride, I went about 45 minutes each time.



The barrels were blued again, then the dykem removed with acetone.





Next I hit the barrels with a couple more coats of 10% hot brown solution, then a coat of dilute ferric chloride applied to hot steel.  I sprayed the barrel down with ammonia based window cleaner, rinsed well then oiled.  The next day, I de-oiled the breech end and blued it.  The barrels did not have a Nock style breech, but just hooked plugs - so I had engraved a line on the top five flats to make the breeches look like they were full octagon plugs.

Last, after the barrels cured for a couple of days I coated them with some old Deftoil, a Danish oil - polyurethane finish.  I had trouble getting good photos and good color with indoor lighting but here are some examples of the finished product:

















I hope that description of the process is at least as clear as mud!

Thanks for looking,
Curtis
« Last Edit: March 01, 2019, 09:40:44 AM by Curtis »
Curtis Allinson
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Sometimes, late at night when I am alone in the inner sanctum of my workshop and no one else can see, I sand things using only my fingers for backing

Offline Chowmi

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Re: Faux twist barrel finish
« Reply #1 on: March 01, 2019, 10:38:21 AM »
You make it sound so easy....
Sometimes it amazes me how people come up with processes involving so many distinct steps.  I usually just throw things together and hope for the best!

Nice work Curtis!  Can't wait till I'm retired...

cheers,
Norm
Cheers,
Chowmi

NMLRA
CLA

Offline Dave Tercek

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Re: Faux twist barrel finish
« Reply #2 on: March 01, 2019, 03:54:50 PM »
Amazing,  The result of craftsman and artist coming together.

Online smart dog

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Re: Faux twist barrel finish
« Reply #3 on: March 01, 2019, 05:09:07 PM »
Hi Curtis,
It looks good.  I like the idea of using Dykem blue because it is less messy and thick than asphaltum ground.

dave
"The main accomplishment of modern economics is to make astrology look good."

Offline hortonstn

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Re: Faux twist barrel finish
« Reply #4 on: March 01, 2019, 05:11:48 PM »
Curtis
I like the color looks like a lot of work just wondering how durable the finish will be
Thanks for posting

Paul

Offline Craig Wilcox

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Re: Faux twist barrel finish
« Reply #5 on: March 01, 2019, 06:24:28 PM »
A lot of thinking, and a LOT of work!  And your result shows the benefits of both.

Really nice!
Craig Wilcox
We are all elated when Dame Fortune smiles at us, but remember that she is always closely followed by her daughter, Miss Fortune.

Offline yulzari

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Re: Faux twist barrel finish
« Reply #6 on: March 01, 2019, 09:40:43 PM »
Impressive work. Well done.
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Offline Curtis

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Re: Faux twist barrel finish
« Reply #7 on: March 02, 2019, 01:11:23 AM »
Thank you for your comments guys.  Experimenting a lot ahead of time helped me have an educated guess at what sort of outcome a technique would give, and some of it  was done by the seat of my pants!   I think the finish will be fairly durable, and the coating I put on it is resistant to oils, denatured alcohol and some solvents according to my tests.  Straight acetone will remove it with vigorous rubbing and a rag.  I plan on adding another coat when I'm satisfied that it is fully cured.

Thanks, Curtis
Curtis Allinson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sometimes, late at night when I am alone in the inner sanctum of my workshop and no one else can see, I sand things using only my fingers for backing

Offline Daryl

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Re: Faux twist barrel finish
« Reply #8 on: March 02, 2019, 04:18:05 AM »
Curtis - that is amazing work. Truly amazing.

Here's one to try for. You can do it!! Have faith.

Here's a pair of Suhl bls from a double rifle.




Your work so far is very close to this French percussion flintlock.




 


Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a spaniel without ears" King George V

Offline Curtis

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Re: Faux twist barrel finish
« Reply #9 on: March 02, 2019, 08:04:50 AM »
Nice, Daryl!  I think I'll start working on a double like that Suhl tomorrow! 

Curtis
Curtis Allinson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sometimes, late at night when I am alone in the inner sanctum of my workshop and no one else can see, I sand things using only my fingers for backing

Offline JohnnyFM

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Re: Faux twist barrel finish
« Reply #10 on: March 02, 2019, 10:13:25 AM »
Absolutely fantastic work Curtis!  Thanks for taking the time to describe your procedure.

Daryl that Suhl bbl is one of the prettiest specimens I’ve seen. I’m sure photos do not do it justice.  I could get lost in that pattern for days.