I have an old Dan Wesson needing some touch ups, the finish is closer to black than blue…suggestions appreciated
thanks
capt jack
thanks
capt jack
MEK makes a most excellent degreasing solvent prior to bluing. Just wipe down using paper towels dampened with MEK. For polishing on flat surfaces, 800 grit cloth wrapped around a flat file works very well.A very clean surface is necessary. Use a couple of different solvents. Brake cleaner, acetone, denatured alcohol are some I have used. Dawn dish washing detergent is a good final clean.
As said above the surfaces must match. I am always surprised at the low polish on very nicely blued guns. A 1500 grit finish will almost not take the bluing. Some where between 240 grit and 400 grit is about right. But it has to match the rest of the gun. Polish in one direction, so all the “scratches” line up.
I have use Vans. It is more blue than black.
A major advantage of Dicrophan T4 is unlike most other cold blues it won't start to puddle on the surface after an application or two.
After applying and flushing with hot water, I give it a spray with 91% or denatured alcohol to insure a clean surface, dry with a hair dryer to dry and warm slightly and apply again.
I've put on as many as 8 coats this way.
Years ago I blued a Marlin 39-A trigger this way, and years later the finish is still perfect and unworn after a lot of use.
Another trick is to pour a little T4 in a cap and apply with a small brush.
This prevents contaminating the bottle and seems to give better, non-streak coverage.
Pitch whatever T4 isn't used.