Time for an update on this one.
I got the barrels back from turnbull a while ago. I am currently working on a run of several barrel sets and mics. parts for bluing, so I figured I would get the barrels for this gun in final polishing and rust bluing.
Below are a series of photos of the bluing process.
The barrels are finish polished out and ready to start the bluing process.
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They are de-greased in a bath of denatured alcohol.
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For plugging the bores and handling I use a pair of 36" threaded rods with rubber stoppers (that I have drilled out), washers and nuts on each end. when the nuts are tightened down the rubber plugs are seated into the chamber and muzzle. The hole in the plugs allows air to vent out of the bores while minimizing the amount of water that gets into the bores. The length of rod that sticks out the ends work great for hanging the barrels in the tank and also for handling them.
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The barrels are swabbed down with alchohol before each rusting and then warmed a little with a torch. A cotton swab is used to apply a solution to the barrels which causes the metal to oxidize. Here is a photo after the first rusting.
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Then the barrel is boiled in the water tank for a little bit. When the barrel comes out, the red oxide is converted to black oxide.
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On the surface is a light coating of "Black Velvet" that needs to be carded off using a super fine stainless wire wheel.
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That is the end of one cycle in the bluing process. This is all repeated about 8 to 10 times to get the deep black color required. Every set is different and the environment effects it as well. After enough processes have been done, the barrels are neutralized with baking soda and water, dried and coated with oil to cure.
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