Blueing a barrel

[Virginia Hessler]

Hi
I have been reading how if you were to hot blue a shotgun barrel it will fall apart.
Most of what I have read says the heat will melt the solder. Only one article mentioned the acidic solution will eat away the solder, either way I'm guessing at the end of the day you have no solder.
So my question would be how is a Vulcan steel set of barrels reblued ?
Is the only method rust blueing?

I have rust blued two rifles and they came out beautiful , but there is nothing blue about them they are black.
I have looked at many reblued Parker's and the color seems to be a nice dark blue.
Could anyone shed some light on what process and chemical is being used to create this dark blue Finnish.
Thank you, Tom

[Brian Dudley]

The only way to do barrels with soldered joints is Rust bluing or Cold Bluing. However rust bluing is the proper method and will by all means yield the best results.

Rust blued Barrels would have a black finish to them. The type of solution can have an effect on the type of shade. But another thing that will have a big effect on the look of bluing is the polishing.

[Virginia Hessler]

Thanks for the reply
I have used Brownells rust blue solution, it came out fine but I would rather see a little blue instead of jet black.

Can anyone suggest a different solution to try ?

Thank you, Tom

[Brian Dudley]

Try Pilkingtons.

[Brian Dudley]

Here is a pair of Repro A1 barrels done with mark lees.

35714

[Dean Romig]

I would rather see a little blue instead of jet black.

Can anyone suggest a different solution to try ?

Thank you, Tom

Tom, it's your gun so if you don't want it to look as it did when it originally left the factory that's your choice - make it blue... but its value will be somewhat negatively affected by refinishing the barrels incorrectly.

[Dave Suponski]

Also one thing to remember about reblueing barrels is that the lower grade guns such as a Vulcan grade should not have the barrels polished to a high sheen before bluing.So that as much of the original striking marks as possible remain.

[Justin Julian]

The Belgian Bluing solution sold by Brownell's will yield a finish that is more soft blue than black. It won't reflect the correct color for a Parker, as it will have more of a soft bluish hue than a rust bluing, and its safe on soft soldered doubles.

[Virginia Hessler]

Since I asked this question I have learnt a lot. I have rust blued a few sets and they came out really nice. The key being the polishing.
Thanks, Tom

[Leighton Stallones]

To add more black to the finished product add about 2 % Ammonium Chloride to your solution.