Blueing brass?

eric · 03-06-2008, 06:04 PM

Ive started restoring the kp2 and so far all that is left is the blueing of the body.
Thats where im having a problem. Ive went over the body with steel wool,rubbed it down with alcohal, and now im applying the hoppes blueing ive bought. Yet it only blues in some places.

Any advice for what im doing wrong? before I waste all of the blueing liquid.

incynr8 · 03-06-2008, 06:06 PM

you can't blue brass with that. a muddy stain is all you will achieve.

Mayvik · 03-06-2008, 06:07 PM

Bluing only works on steel.

Bluing (steel) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You need to plate brass; nickel and zinc are the most common but you can use gold, silver, chrome, etc. Alternately, you can powdercoat it which is sorta like melting a thin plastic film over the surface.

eric · 03-06-2008, 06:08 PM

And thats exactly what seems to be happening. I guess it does kind of click of why its mostly working on where the old sc feed tube used to be (the solder).

How would I go about blueing it then?

Edit: Didnt see the post above yet. But now that I do I dont have time for powder coating. I do remember someone blueing brass tho.

Fluff · 03-06-2008, 06:11 PM

Remember, bluing is a controlled rusting process. That is why you cannot blue non-ferrous metals

incynr8 · 03-06-2008, 06:11 PM

old school ways:
Black Finish for Brass

Mayvik · 03-06-2008, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eric

And thats exactly what seems to be happening. I guess it does kind of click of why its mostly working on where the old sc feed tube used to be (the solder).

How would I go about blueing it then?

Edit: Didnt see the post above yet. But now that I do I dont have time for powder coating. I do remember someone blueing brass tho.

Hoppe's cold blue will basically stain your brass blu-ish, until you wash it off.

If you can't spare the time to send it out for PC or plating, you could try Duracoat, which you can do yourself if you have access to an air compressor. Going to run you more than a $10 bluing kit but that's about your own other easy option.

eric · 03-06-2008, 06:17 PM

I havent tried the heated ways yet so thats probably what i'll look into.
I really dont want to put a powdercoat or anything on it tho.

Railgun · 03-06-2008, 07:33 PM

I think it was Brownells (the gun smithing supply place) that had brass blackening liquid. Try checking with them.

B · 03-06-2008, 10:13 PM

Brass black by Birchwood Casey it takes lot of work but a proper finish can be attained. It will take about a week of 2 coats a day warm the brass until it is almost to hot to touch then apply the blacking agent. ( follow the directions and use SS wool XXXX in between coats)

03-06-2008, 06:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
eric MCB Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Port Colborne,ON	Blueing brass? Ive started restoring the kp2 and so far all that is left is the blueing of the body. Thats where im having a problem. Ive went over the body with steel wool,rubbed it down with alcohal, and now im applying the hoppes blueing ive bought. Yet it only blues in some places. Any advice for what im doing wrong? before I waste all of the blueing liquid. __________________ pbnation: A web site where, on any given evening, one may find approximately 500 paintball enthusiasts discussing the sport, and 1500 teenagers calling each other gay.

03-06-2008, 06:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
incynr8 Flaky Admin Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Amidst the Forest Creatures	you can't blue brass with that. a muddy stain is all you will achieve. __________________

03-06-2008, 06:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
eric MCB Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Port Colborne,ON	And thats exactly what seems to be happening. I guess it does kind of click of why its mostly working on where the old sc feed tube used to be (the solder). How would I go about blueing it then? Edit: Didnt see the post above yet. But now that I do I dont have time for powder coating. I do remember someone blueing brass tho. __________________ pbnation: A web site where, on any given evening, one may find approximately 500 paintball enthusiasts discussing the sport, and 1500 teenagers calling each other gay.

03-06-2008, 06:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
incynr8 Flaky Admin Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Amidst the Forest Creatures	old school ways: Black Finish for Brass __________________

03-06-2008, 06:17 PM	#8 (permalink)
eric MCB Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Port Colborne,ON	I havent tried the heated ways yet so thats probably what i'll look into. I really dont want to put a powdercoat or anything on it tho. __________________ pbnation: A web site where, on any given evening, one may find approximately 500 paintball enthusiasts discussing the sport, and 1500 teenagers calling each other gay.

03-06-2008, 06:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mayvik 1-866-MEAT-4-YU Join Date: May 2007 Location: Binghamton NY	Bluing only works on steel. Bluing (steel) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia You need to plate brass; nickel and zinc are the most common but you can use gold, silver, chrome, etc. Alternately, you can powdercoat it which is sorta like melting a thin plastic film over the surface.

03-06-2008, 07:33 PM	#9 (permalink)
Railgun MCB Member Join Date: Oct 2006	I think it was Brownells (the gun smithing supply place) that had brass blackening liquid. Try checking with them. __________________ Model airplanes are cool too!

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