what now - metallic copper color

[foresterdj]

Well, it seems I goofed and wiped too many times with my Laurel Mountain Forge barrel brown and now have the metallic copper color the instructions warn about. And yes, it does seem to be impeding further browning.

I have been searching and see mention of this potential issue, but need to know how to proceed now.

Any proven suggestions to move forward?

[Daryl]

You must now emery or sand off that colour.

With LMF which does a very good job, you can wipe one way only - never back and forth or over the same spot twice.
A slightt overlap of strokes doesn't seem to do this "coppering".

I have done this too, and got these further directions from Taylor.

[Eric Krewson]

When I get the copper color by accident I just go over the part the next day and and the next just like it never happened, it will rust just like it should in a few days.

[foresterdj]

I had it setting for 5 hours today in my "browning" tent with water and a small space heater and not a lick of rust formed over the copper sheen. Whole barrel is sanded back down to shiny metal at 320 grit now. Will try again tomorrow.

Thanks both for the comments.

[Daryl]

Welcome. Just remember, it's a one-way street down the flats. Use only enough to wet the barrel with one pass without drips.
Carding between coats will give a smoother finish, polished if you want.  Saw one of Taylor's done that way - REALLY nice.
Mine was not carded and is rough in texture.

[G_T]

Many years ago I had it go coppery but ended up chocolate brown. It just took a while and many applications/carding. I didn't kow of it as a problem. Perhaps that explains why it went so slowly! I just figured it was the steel.

[Eric Krewson]

In my opinion 320 is a little slick for browning, LMF recommends 180, I use 220.

I see all the browning tents and shower stall browning applications, if you live in a dry area these are necessary. I live south of the TN line and one night out at any time of the year will get things rusting.

I have been helping a friend with advice on assembling a Kibler, he lives south of me a couple hundred miles. He made all the heated browning tents and was having trouble getting things to rust. He had over polished the metal, i told him to sand back to 220. Next I told him to hang his barrel in the garage overnight and leave the garage door open, he sent me pictures the next day of a well rusted barrel.

[foresterdj]

I wondered if 320 grit might have a too polished surface, but it seems to be progressing slooooowly now. My shop is about 60 degrees and 45 % rH, warmer and I assume more humid inside the tent, but not sure how much so. I will let it muddle along a coat a day for a couple days and see how it goes. Thanks to all for the replies.

This is my first build, well two builds, working on the .45 rifle and a .54 pistol, both flintlocks. I have learned that the fine details of inletting are not my strong suit, but coming along.

[Ed Wenger]

If you’re still having problems with it taking the rust, I’d seriously think about re draw filing, and just go with that.  I’ve found that anything over 220 inhibits the rust process, and usually just draw file the barrel.  Best,

      Ed

[Jim Filipski]

I dilute LMF browning by 50% with distilled water! Works much slower but who is in a hurry! Beautiful Brown if that is what you want ..... As is out of the bottle it is too aggressive and causes copper plating....then you are screwed!

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Great to hear from you Jim!!

[Ross Dillion]

Sounds like you need more humidity. Steam up your bathroom real good and leave it in there. I usually don’t attempt to brown a barrel in the winter. Seems like not enough heat or humidity. Summer in Arkansas you almost don’t need LMF. Barrel will brown itself. The LMF is almost foolproof in my experience.

[Jim Filipski]

Great to hear from you Jim!!

Thanks,
 I'm finally back after a 6 German Jaeger build burn out in the Early 2000's Went to shooting cast bullets in modern guns! Now we have a component shortage! so picked up a fowler I started back in 2001! And finally got hooked back up to the ALR New website! Glad my posting were not lost!
It feels good to be back I'm working on that Fowler now...( Guess i'm retired to a certain extent!)
Jim