Question regarding gun "barrel" bluing ? - The Firearms Forum

wpshooter · 08-12-2012, 04:47 AM

When a gun barrel is to be reblued, should the ends of the barrel be plugged so that the bluing solution does not get inside of the barrel ?

The reason I ask, is because the guy that has been doing some bluing for me recently does not do so.

I have noticed that it takes an extremely large number of oiled patch passes (thru these barrels on which the bluing solution was allowed to contact the inside of the barrel) to clean what appears to be rust out of the inside of these barrels.

Thanks.

jack404 · 08-12-2012, 05:19 AM

most bluing is oxidising the surface like rust but in a controlled way

i've 2 dozen lengths of pine dowel that i use to plug barrels when bluing , its lazy not too in my view and just makes work for you .. his customer and to not clean it out before returning it , sloppy and dangerous , sorry to your mate but i do a fair few here for other folks and would never return a rifle like that ..

gent near me ( 20 miles away) saves his cigarette butts , pulls the paper wrapper off the fiber filter and rolls the filter down to size to fit

i dont smoke tailor made with filters , but thinking of doing likewise the filters a giant sponge so with care they do fine

ciggy filters only for the two part acid mixes or birchwood casey types , wood plugs for hot bath blues..

goofy · 08-12-2012, 08:38 AM

Jack do you ever have a dowel blow out from the inside air expanding?
Or does the wood allow the expanding air to escape?
Mike

Helix_FR · 08-12-2012, 09:24 AM

I dont plug barrels. if you have a blow out while submersed its bad juju. also most barrels being chrome lined, are unaffected by bluing salts

wpshooter · 08-12-2012, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helix_FR

I dont plug barrels. if you have a blow out while submersed its bad juju. also most barrels being chrome lined, are unaffected by bluing salts

Can you expound upon what you mean by "bad juju" ?

Thanks.

goofy · 08-12-2012, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wpshooter

Can you expound upon what you mean by "bad juju" ?

Thanks.

When you put the barrel in the salts witch is at 295 degrees the air expands in the barrel witch can cause the plug to blow out of the end (or so I am told) and in turn send hot salts EVERY ware

If you get it on you you get burned real bad

I to do not plug the barrels.
Mike

Helix_FR · 08-12-2012, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goofy

When you put the barrel in the salts witch is at 295 degrees the air expands in the barrel witch can cause the plug to blow out of the end (or so I am told) and in turn send hot salts EVERY ware

If you get it on you you get burned real bad

I to do not plug the barrels.
Mike

Yep thats why. also a rubber or cork plug can polute the salt bath if left in there. if you have a blow out you gotta find it

Jim K · 08-12-2012, 08:58 PM

Maybe I lived right, but I used wooden plugs and never had one blow out. I not only plugged the barrel but used wood plugs 4 inches or so long so they provided handles to hold the barrel without touching it and also a place for the hooks in the tank so they didn't contact the barrel.

As to getting salts in the barrel/chamber, that will happen if the barrel is not plugged; obviously, the residue has to be rinsed out the same as it has to be rinsed out of any other crevice or opening in the gun. Some folks express concern that bluing in the barrel will constrict the bore, raising the pressure and blowing the gun up. Nonsense, of course; bluing runs about .0001 inch, nowhere near enough to cause any such problem.

Some gunsmiths who don't plug barrels had complaints about bluing in barrels, but the advice was to fire the gun and the bluing will wear off.

Jim

08-12-2012, 04:47 AM	#1
wpshooter V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 249	Question regarding gun "barrel" bluing ? When a gun barrel is to be reblued, should the ends of the barrel be plugged so that the bluing solution does not get inside of the barrel ? The reason I ask, is because the guy that has been doing some bluing for me recently does not do so. I have noticed that it takes an extremely large number of oiled patch passes (thru these barrels on which the bluing solution was allowed to contact the inside of the barrel) to clean what appears to be rust out of the inside of these barrels. Thanks. -->

08-12-2012, 05:19 AM	#2
jack404 Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Australia Contributor Posts: 17,622	Re: Question regarding gun "barrel" bluing ? most bluing is oxidising the surface like rust but in a controlled way i've 2 dozen lengths of pine dowel that i use to plug barrels when bluing , its lazy not too in my view and just makes work for you .. his customer and to not clean it out before returning it , sloppy and dangerous , sorry to your mate but i do a fair few here for other folks and would never return a rifle like that .. gent near me ( 20 miles away) saves his cigarette butts , pulls the paper wrapper off the fiber filter and rolls the filter down to size to fit i dont smoke tailor made with filters , but thinking of doing likewise the filters a giant sponge so with care they do fine ciggy filters only for the two part acid mixes or birchwood casey types , wood plugs for hot bath blues.. Last edited by jack404; 08-12-2012 at 05:36 AM..

08-12-2012, 08:38 AM	#3
goofy Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Contributor Posts: 2,018	Re: Question regarding gun "barrel" bluing ? Jack do you ever have a dowel blow out from the inside air expanding? Or does the wood allow the expanding air to escape? Mike

08-12-2012, 09:24 AM	#4
Helix_FR TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Imperial, MO Posts: 3,617	Re: Question regarding gun "barrel" bluing ? I dont plug barrels. if you have a blow out while submersed its bad juju. also most barrels being chrome lined, are unaffected by bluing salts __________________ Only cowards shoot with their eyes closed.... helixgunsmith.com

08-12-2012, 08:58 PM	#8
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: Question regarding gun "barrel" bluing ? Maybe I lived right, but I used wooden plugs and never had one blow out. I not only plugged the barrel but used wood plugs 4 inches or so long so they provided handles to hold the barrel without touching it and also a place for the hooks in the tank so they didn't contact the barrel. As to getting salts in the barrel/chamber, that will happen if the barrel is not plugged; obviously, the residue has to be rinsed out the same as it has to be rinsed out of any other crevice or opening in the gun. Some folks express concern that bluing in the barrel will constrict the bore, raising the pressure and blowing the gun up. Nonsense, of course; bluing runs about .0001 inch, nowhere near enough to cause any such problem. Some gunsmiths who don't plug barrels had complaints about bluing in barrels, but the advice was to fire the gun and the bluing will wear off. Jim