Best way to touch up blueing?

eljaydubya · Apr 23, 2011

I just purchased an older Model 41 that is in excellent condition except for excessive blueing wear on the front grip strap. I thought I would get some oooo steel wool and lightly rub then try to blend in with cold blue. What is the best cold blue product to use or is there a better way? It's an older mfgr. and I don't want to compromise the whole pistol just for the grip strap. Thanks, Jim.

Texas Roots · Apr 23, 2011

Oxpho Blue from Brownells is an excellent cold blue; however, as far as your project is concerned, well, I just wouldn't.

You can't be assured it will come out like you want and when it doesn't, then you're stuck. No cold blue will blend with a hot blued surface unless you have very low expectations of outcome. Just my $.02 worth.

RGPM1A · Apr 23, 2011

I have the same gun and had the same issue. I used Brownells Oxpho Blue. I then followed a a procedure I found in an old edition of Gunsmith Kinks by Bob Brownell. The blued finish I got was very close to the rest of the gun.

Prep with 600 grit sandpaper (he used 140 grit Polish-O-Ray but I found 400 to 600 grit paper to work ok) and carefully degrease (I used Gun Scrubber degreaser).

Pour some OB into a small cup.

Use a cotton swab or clean cotton gun patch dipped in the solution in the cup to mop on as much solution as will hold on the part to be blued.

Wait at least 30 seconds until the solution on the gun has turned a messy looking black color.

Wipe dry with a clean cloth until thoroughly dry.

Burnish with 00 steel wool. You will now have a greyish blue finish.

Now match the color of the blue by doing the following:

Use a gun patch BARELY dampened with the OP solution and BARELY dampen the surface to be matched.

Wipe dry with a clean cloth.

Burnish with 00 steel wool.

Repeat these three steps until the color matches.

Note: I found that slightly heating the gun so it was warm to the touch with a hair dryer before performing any of the blueing procedure helps get a darker blue but don't ever let the initial application dry because of overheating or you will end up with a grey finish that won't darken further and you will have to start all over.

Hope this helps. FWIW.

Cheers

blackgun101 · Apr 23, 2011

gun blue

I've tried a lot blueing agents and have found Blue Wonder to be the best. It's little more expensive than your run of the mill cold blue, per say, but you will get a high quality finish when your done. They recommend warm the material to be blued to 125 degrees (F) for best results. The blue found on a Colt Python is about the color that Blue Wonder provides. It's made right here in Houston. Check out their educational video

eljaydubya · Apr 23, 2011

RGPM1A:
This sounds like a good common sense approach. Oxpho Blue on order. Thanks much. Jim

s&wchad · Apr 23, 2011

I prefer a gun that shows honest wear with no signs of abuse to one that has been "touched up". My suggestion is to leave the 41 as is.

thndrchiken · Apr 23, 2011

I'll second the blue wonder.

blackgun101 · Apr 23, 2011

Blue wonder

After making my post this AM, I went to the safe and took out a complete slide assembly and brought it out to the shop. After stripping the sights, fireing pin assembly, and safety assembly and loosing the safety plunger by the way. I stripped the blue finish off, polished it out and started the cleaning process, (most important part) following all of blue wonders instructions and a couple of hours later I have a reassembled slide that look great and all for about $5.00 and a Saturday afternoon. I still believe Blue wonder is the better product, (Just a humble opinion.) I hope these pictures do the job justice for a cold blue. (and they didn't)

RGPM1A · Apr 23, 2011

blackgun101 said:
After making my post this AM, I went to the safe and took out a complete slide assembly and brought it out to the shop. After stripping the sights, fireing pin assembly, and safety assembly and loosing the safety plunger by the way. I stripped the blue finish off, polished it out and started the cleaning process, (most important part) following all of blue wonders instructions and a couple of hours later I have a reassembled slide that look great and all for about $5.00 and a Saturday afternoon. I still believe Blue wonder is the better product, (Just a humble opinion.) I hope these pictures do the job justice for a cold blue. (and they didn't)

That does look nice. I'll have to try the stuff on my next project instead of Oxpho.

larry8 · Nov 21, 2012

That looks a lot better than the blue that I use. Where did you buy that?

Best way to touch up blueing?

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