Rust blue

[Chris Travinski]

I was recently donated an Winchester 24 in poor shape. It was too sad to be left alone so I stripped it down for a well deserved reblue. My question for the experts is what to do with the bores when I'm treating the barrels, can I put RIG in the bores without creating flaws in the blue? I don't want to leave them bare metal with all of the acid fumes and boiling water, correct?

Thanks,
Chris

[Paul Ehlers]

Chris,

I'm no expert. but I'll give my two cents worth. Rig is a grease, and it will have a melting point. You will be boiling your barrels and the last thing you want is to possibly contaminate the process.

Here's link to a video. Notice Art using wooden plugs for the bores.

http://artsgunshop.com/Video/RustBlue/videoPlayer.htm

[Dean Romig]

Wooden or rubber plugs is the way to go. Be careful they don't pop out when the heat expands the air inside the tubes causing a pressure buildup.

[Chris Travinski]

Thanks Guys, plugs it is. That was a good video, the process he is using is much different than I have done in the past on rifle barrels/parts. I decided to try the Pilkington solution from Brownells on this project, by the directions it's going to move alot slower between steps than Art's process. The way Art was waving the barrels around to whip the water off was making me cringe, I'm guessing he hasn't dropped a set of Parker barrels yet! Wish me luck, thanks again.

Chris