Hot Bluing - Page 3 - The Firearms Forum

ShawnDow · 08-12-2012, 07:14 PM

express blue is made by? same people.. Art's? Ill look for it, and see what I can find. Thank you for the heads up.
Shawn

ShawnDow · 08-12-2012, 07:16 PM

think I found it.. do I order a volume to match the Art's? 16 oz. or can I go for the 4 oz. bottle?

Jim K · 08-12-2012, 08:43 PM

It sounds like some confusion here. Belgian Blue is rust blue or at least one version of it. Prior to the invention of caustic salt (hot tank) bluing in the mid-1930's, there were hundreds of formulae for rust bluing, plus of course charcoal bluing, Carbonia bluing, heat bluing, temper bluing, etc. Each gunshop had its own mixture, and every book or article on gunsmithing had one or more concoctions, almost like "The Joy of Bluing." Some gave a real blue, others a black, others a brown, still others a plum color. And each had its devotees, insistent that his brew was best.

So it is not a matter of hot tank blue vs rust blue - there are other choices, but most of the others are either variations of rust blue and require the same amount of work, or are not practical today in a small shop.

Jim

08-12-2012, 07:14 PM	#51
ShawnDow V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Tawas City, Michigan Posts: 394	Re: Hot Bluing express blue is made by? same people.. Art's? Ill look for it, and see what I can find. Thank you for the heads up. Shawn __________________ You can't prevent the inevitable.. only alter its time span!

08-12-2012, 07:16 PM	#52
ShawnDow V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Tawas City, Michigan Posts: 394	Re: Hot Bluing think I found it.. do I order a volume to match the Art's? 16 oz. or can I go for the 4 oz. bottle? __________________ You can't prevent the inevitable.. only alter its time span!

08-12-2012, 08:43 PM	#53
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: Hot Bluing It sounds like some confusion here. Belgian Blue is rust blue or at least one version of it. Prior to the invention of caustic salt (hot tank) bluing in the mid-1930's, there were hundreds of formulae for rust bluing, plus of course charcoal bluing, Carbonia bluing, heat bluing, temper bluing, etc. Each gunshop had its own mixture, and every book or article on gunsmithing had one or more concoctions, almost like "The Joy of Bluing." Some gave a real blue, others a black, others a brown, still others a plum color. And each had its devotees, insistent that his brew was best. So it is not a matter of hot tank blue vs rust blue - there are other choices, but most of the others are either variations of rust blue and require the same amount of work, or are not practical today in a small shop. Jim