Cloudy Bluing

glshuck · Jun 5, 2025

Looking to pick the brains of the experts here. I have a 29 from the early 80s. It didn't exactly get an amazing polish job from the factory prior to bluing.

The majority of the bluing on the gun looks cloudy. Im starting to believe it may have been an issue from the get go on this gun, moisture or something when bluing. I have tried everything I could think of to get rid of it with no success. Flitz, oil, degreaser, etc.

Has anyone had a similar problem, and if so, did you have any luck getting rid of it? Anything else I should try?

alwslate · Jun 5, 2025

Why do you think it is a problem? Doesn't affect function does it? If it belonged to me I would leave it alone.

stansdds · Jun 5, 2025

I doubt there is anything short of a complete refinishing that will improve that bluing job.

MSD2343 · Jun 5, 2025

I have a Model 27-9 that after about a year of fairly heavy range use took on a similarly cloudy appearance. But a light treatment of Flitz restored the bluing’s sheen just fine. Since Flitz didn’t work in your case, I wonder if some very gentle polishing with 0000 bronze (not steel!) wool with a generous helping of oil might improve things.

Might be worth a try if your only alternative is a refinish. You could start on a less conspicuous area such as the trigger gaurd.

2152hq · Jun 5, 2025

The cloudy areas are likely where the bluing has worn thin.
It may have been a substandard job to begin with poor pre-cleaning prior to the actual bluing itself.
Weak bluing soln(s) and improper temps can give less than satisfactory colors as well.
Not everything from the factory is perfect when sent out the door.

Or someone's attempts to polish up the surfaces at one time and went a little too far especially in some spots.
Might be some sort of chemical was on a cloth and rubbed around on the gun to wipe it down and started to remove/thin the bluing where it contacted the surface.

Bluing is only a couple 10/1000" thick, if that,, depending on the particular process. Wearing some of it off but not completely off will thin the color layer and start to show the polished steel underneath.
With some color still on the surface, you get different shades of pale blue/grey.

Sounds like you've tried about everything,,Flitz, oil, degreasing it..
You can try the Bronze wool and oil, but it's more aggressive also so take it easy

SnidelyWhiplash · Jun 5, 2025

Bangor Punta strikes again.

gwpercle · Jun 5, 2025

Try giving it a good cleaning with ...

Turtle Wax Chrome Polish and Rust Remover .

Typically used on chromed car bumpers and other chromed metal parts / trim ... it saved the model 58 S&W in my avatar from a refinishing job .
After cleaning and polishing the gu with TWCP&RR it restored the finish to "looks pretty danged good " ... good enough to carry and shoot .
It may not work but the TWCP&RR is cheap and easy to find ... I just used a rag and followed directions ... took some elbow grease but it ... came clean !

After cleaning ... a paste wax job , I used Turtle Wax , completed the job .
Gary

jem102 · Jun 5, 2025

I would give it a go with Renaissance Pre-Lim and a really soft cloth (old style diaper) well buffed. Then Renaissance wax to finish.

glshuck · Jun 5, 2025

alwslate said:
Why do you think it is a problem? Doesn't affect function does it? If it belonged to me I would leave it alone.

Im not losing sleep over it, but I don't mind trying to make it better if it's just a matter of some time and effort.

Cloudy Bluing

glshuck

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alwslate

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stansdds

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MSD2343

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2152hq

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SnidelyWhiplash

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gwpercle

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jem102

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glshuck

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