Kinda a Queer Duck Here...maybe...

[CajunBass]

Well, I did a cold blue job on it over the weekend. I'm sure not going to tell you that it looks like brand new, but it looks better. Of course, it couldn't look much worse I suppose.

I made no attempt to buff out the pitting. That's above my pay grade and I know it. I cleaned up, degreased it, and polished it up a little with steel wool and then Flitz and got the metal fairly clean. I then applied the cold blue paste (Birchwood Casey).

Now it has the look of a somewhat worn blue finish. I didn't get it applied as evenly as I should have, but it's my first attempt at it.

Don't laugh now.



I'll probably strip it and redo it before too long, but for now, it'll do.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Does it pass the sniff test or does it have that cold blue aroma?

 

[CajunBass]

No odor that I can tell.

 

[labworm]

Now you can refer to it as a "Rare one of a kind Model 36".

 

[CajunBass]

Now you can refer to it as a "Rare one of a kind Model 36".

Well...that's one way to look at it.

 

[millerj7]

Well, I did a cold blue job on it over the weekend. I'm sure not going to tell you that it looks like brand new, but it looks better. Of course, it couldn't look much worse I suppose.

I made no attempt to buff out the pitting. That's above my pay grade and I know it. I cleaned up, degreased it, and polished it up a little with steel wool and then Flitz and got the metal fairly clean. I then applied the cold blue paste (Birchwood Casey).

Now it has the look of a somewhat worn blue finish. I didn't get it applied as evenly as I should have, but it's my first attempt at it.

Don't laugh now.

I'll probably strip it and redo it before too long, but for now, it'll do.

CajunBass, I don't think it looks all that bad (and I certainly would not laugh) and if nothing else you provided a little protection against further rust/pitting. One suggestion if you decide to strip and re-do:
I once had a first year Ruger Blackhawk Flat-top .44 that was pitted in spots beyond polishing. I had the smith (Gary Reeder) bead blast it before bluing. Basically camouflaged the pits and ended up with a pretty even matte finish.
I understand Dura Coat also has a Dura Fill product that is applied before the finish for cases such as this, but I have no experience with it (don't care for painted guns!)
In any case, best of luck whichever way you go.
Jim

 

[Jdavis]

It looks better and will look even better the more coats of that paste you apply. I did a shotgun with that product years ago and I must have put 8 or 10 coats on it before the blue looked deep enough. You can get surprisingly good results the more coats you apply and lightly buffing with 0000 steel wool between coats.

 

[Pete from Perth]

I bet it shoots like a new one. I have a rough set of J frame RB S&W grips if you want them!

 

[Atlast357]

Interesting how much attention this "6 shot" 36 is getting so far.
If you clean it any more,your fan base might disappear.

 

[Tyrod]

Brownell's Oxpho Blue and a heat gun/hair dryer. Or Duracoat now makes a spray on bluing paint. Either way, the finished product looks very good. Check youtube for extensive instructions for either product.

BTW, The new Duracoat bluing paint would be an excellent finish for aluminum framed guns. It looks a great deal like the original paint S&W used on Model 37s.

 

[BigBill]

Get some simi chrome polish with some elbow grease and polish that baby up. No one lets baby sit in the corner looking like that not even ugly Betty.