Cold bluing

[Turbo Esprit]

Anyone have any experience with "Cold Bluing". I'm not talking the obligatory "Birchwood/Casey", but a more professional cold bluing, like maybe Galazan, where etching (as in "hot salts"/acid bluing) takes place? DIY, of course. I'd never pay someone to do a cold blue job. - not worth it.

[dfariswheel]

It's not really a cold blue since you use boiling water, but you can do the old rust bluing process that was used on the old British double guns.
This gives a lighter, less shiny blue, but one that's very attractive and very durable.

If there's a true cold blue that's simply swabbed on the metal and gives a really acceptable looking and durable blue finish, I've never heard of it.

[Colt75]

I think Van's Cold Blue is the best of the bunch.

www.vansgunblue.com

[Cocked & Locked]

Van's looks fairly good afterwards. My problem is all cold blue that I've ever tried (including Van's) on anything REALLY SMELLS BAD and makes the gun part stink forever and a day...at least.

[broknaxl]

There was a gentleman on here that explained his process of home rust bluing in detail. I don't remember who it was. But it sounded simple enough and his examples of his work looked pretty good. If you want the cold blue to look anywhere kinda sorta decent, or as decent as it can get. You should strip off all the other bluing. That will make it look splotchy otherwise, or at least more so. As with any of it prepping the part to be blued determines the out come.

[JudgeColt]

"Blue Wonder" is by far the best cold blue I have ever used. It appears to be as durable as hot blue and is easy to apply. Here is the link:

Blue Wonder Gun Blue Blue Wonder Gun Care Products - Cleaner, Bluing and Protection

Try it. You will like it.

[swamprat]

I have tried all of the cold blues. and Brownells Dichropan IM is by far the best. I have blued whole guns with it, and it holds up; doesn't rub off like others I have used.

[flanman]

I have done a little rust bluing with the kids for family projects on firearms that they got to call there own. KenS is the whiz at this having done a number of reovlers and other parts.

flanman

[rhmc24]

Belgian Blue needs boiling water but can do a good job in your kitchen. It's a boil part, swab on the stuff, boil more, rub off rust that starts, then do it again.. The boil periods are only a minute or two but it takes 6 or 8 cycles to get it dark like I wanted it. Good blue-black, more satin than shiny, tough. Doing it with each part of a revolver took me couple hours. Brownell's has it but the one I use I got years ago from someplace else.

[broknaxl]

flanman, I believe KenS was the one I was thinking about. Didn't he outline his procedure in a thread awhile ago.