antique barrel treatment

[Bioprof]

When  trying to create an antique barrel finish ala Allen Martin, do you reapply the cold browning solution every day without carding?   I reapplied the browning solution after 3 hours, but no sign of pitting after about 18 hours.   I do have an even brown over the surface though.   My humidity has ranged from 50% during the day to 90% this morning.  I already had a good start on the rust where I had touched the barrel with my hands.

I plan on following the instructions that are in the archives, but it doesn't say whether you have to keep reapplying the browning solution.

[Roger Fisher]

'Pends on how deep you want the pits!!

In my case I like to let it go til fairly well pitted since they are intended to be shooters and that helps (some) to cut the glare.

I do card once and a while during the cold browning w/burlap!  Different strokes for different folks for certain.

[rsells]

I used Allen's process to age a Southern rifle a couple years ago with good results.  I draw filed the barrel, sanded it with 220 grit paper, and used pentane to clean the barrel before applying the browning solution.  I applied Homer Dangler's cold browning solution three times a day for several days without  carding during the process.  I checked the pitting process on the bottom flat of the barrel, and used coarse sand paper to remove the scale from the surface of the barrel once I had the amount of pitting I was wanting.  It is a bunch of work to remove the scale.  After removing the scale, I applied 44-40 cold blue solution to the surface and used steel wool to pull it back to the gray black color I was looking for as the final finish.  It requires work, but makes a good looking aged finish that I like.  You can see the rifle I used it on by going to Art Riser's contemporary makers blog and search for "Roger Sells".  The rifle is stained dark and has two grease holes in the butt stock.  I hope this will be of help.

                                                                 Roger Sells

[Bioprof]

Roger,

Thank you.   That answers my questions very well.   

[Roger Fisher]

Roger,

Thank you.   That answers my questions very well.   

Which Roger you talking at Roger the dodger or Roger the codger


Devil made me do it

[Bioprof]

We've got a steady rain this morning, so it should be rusting up real well after three days of LMF cold brown treatment.   

[M. Wheland]

This process seems to work best if you can control the humidity
around 70% to 75%.

I like to apply browning solution no more than once every 12hrs.
Seems to pit just as well and the rust doesn't build up as much.

Mark

[Bioprof]

It's been raining all day today and I sanded off a couple of spots on the bottom flat and no signs of pitting as of yet.  I guess I just need to be patient and let it go another day.  Seems like it should be rusting fast as humid as it is outside.   I have it hanging just inside my shop door with the door open.

[hyltoto]

Man alive, there should be something going on rustwise. I get good results if I have ~45% humidity at 68 degrees. I clean mine with denatured alchy forst, could that be the difference? I always wear so gloves also, fingerprints will be a different shade.

[Bioprof]

Man alive, there should be something going on rustwise. I get good results if I have ~45% humidity at 68 degrees. I clean mine with denatured alchy forst, could that be the difference? I always wear so gloves also, fingerprints will be a different shade.

I use the same procedures as you.    I may take the barrel down from the wire I have it hanging on today and card it and see what it looks like.  There's loose orange rust on it right now.

[rsells]

If my memory serves me right, I think I applied the cold brown chemical seven or eight days without carding it before I decided that I had the pitting (aged look) I wanted.  I too had a hard time with the processing time.  Normally, for a good dark brown job (not pitted), I can get it done in two to three days. 
                                                                            Roger Sells

[idahjo]

Use a damp box.  When pitted to your satisfaction soak it in Brownell's BARREL WHITE solution and clean it with either steel wool or one of those brass tooth brush-like wire brushes. You will have a consistent surface to finish as you desire.

[Bioprof]

Right now the humidity is 78% which should be about ideal.    To prep the barrel, I drawfiled it without sanding.   I'm thinking that maybe I drawfiled it too smooth for the rust to start on the barrel.    You could see lots of striations from drawfiling though.