Finishing the Rust Blue Job

[Brian Arthur]

Good Morning-

Thanks to all who helped me through the rust blue process on my VH barrels!

Based on my reference DHE, I now need to remove the rust blue finish from the muzzle, lump, breach face and all non visible faces of the dolls head.

The muzzle and some of the breach face was easy to clean up using 400 grit sandpaper. The rest of this is pretty fussy work for sand paper.

I'm thinking of Naval Jelly, but I'm worried about masking. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Brian

[B. Dudley]

No. Too much chance for things to go wrong. Just use care with the wmory paper on backing. Popsicle sticks work great.

[Tom Flanigan]

Originally Posted by Brian Arthur

Good Morning-

Thanks to all who helped me through the rust blue process on my VH barrels!

Based on my reference DHE, I now need to remove the rust blue finish from the muzzle, lump, breach face and all non visible faces of the dolls head.

The muzzle and some of the breach face was easy to clean up using 400 grit sandpaper. The rest of this is pretty fussy work for sand paper.

I'm thinking of Naval Jelly, but I'm worried about masking. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Brian

I use naval jelly to clean the lug. I mask the areas around it with duck tape and then use the naval jelly. After the blue is removed, I finish up by very lightly polishing the area with 0000 stell wool. The results look nice but not new. This is what the lug should look like.

[chris dawe]

Originally Posted by Brian Dudley

No. Too much chance for things to go wrong. Just use care with the wmory paper on backing. Popsicle sticks work great.

Agreed

[J. A. EARLY]

I use the beauty parlor 400/600 grit finger nail files. About $1.50 each at local beauty supply places. An excellent gunsmith referred me to Sally's (Sally Beauty). I got strange looks when I went in there to buy hand fulls of the files. But they are perfect for removing the bluing. And every so often I clean the ends of my doubles with the 400/600 grit ones. He also taught me to use them to take down high spots when adding finish to wood, and you get a run that you did not see. Once they gum up they cut little, just enough to take the bluing off. Because they are flat they are perfect.

In grits from 600 on down to 100, two grits on each file.

https://www.sallybeauty.com/nails/ma...me%7CWhats_new

https://www.sallybeauty.com/nails/ma...me%7CWhats_new

[chris dawe]

Originally Posted by Jerry Harlow

I use the beauty parlor 400/600 grit finger nail files. About $1.50 each at local beauty supply places. An excellent gunsmith referred me to Sally's (Sally Beauty). I got strange looks when I went in there to buy hand fulls of the files. But they are perfect for removing the bluing. And every so often I clean the ends of my doubles with the 400/600 grit ones. He also taught me to use them to take down high spots when adding finish to wood, and you get a run that you did not see. Once they gum up they cut little, just enough to take the bluing off. Because they are flat they are perfect.

In grits from 600 on down to 100, two grits on each file.

https://www.sallybeauty.com/nails/ma...me%7CWhats_new



https://www.sallybeauty.com/nails/ma...me%7CWhats_new

Now.....I really think someone is looking over my shoulders

[J. A. EARLY]

Move your hand so we can see what you are doing a little clearer.

[Brian Arthur]

...and this is why I love this forum.

Brian

[Tom Flanigan]

Originally Posted by Brian Dudley

No. Too much chance for things to go wrong. Just use care with the wmory paper on backing. Popsicle sticks work great.

I can't dissagee. You have to use a lot of care with navel jelly and there is always a chance that some will get on the barrels and ruin the job. I've always done it this way but I think on the next group of barrels, I try popsicle sticks. It's probably faster and little chance for error.

[B. Dudley]

Well, unless you get away from yourself with the emory paper.

The way I figure it, you have to finish up with paper anyway, so why not just eliminate a step and just stick with paper from the start. Just my thoughts.