Blueing vs Rust

[djossi@yahoo.com]

The SORI thread contains a number of methods for cleaning the metal components of a Spencer. But there are also some horror stories of people who cleaned the metal too well and reduced the value of their gun in the process. My question is, how do you distinguish between rust and other discoloration and the original blueing. Looking at the receiver of my rifle, photo below, there appears to be a fair amount of blueing remaining on the lower portion. If that's the case, what's the best way to preserve the blueing while cleaning the other portions of the metal.



Thanks!

[Two Flints]

Dave,

Your asking for methods to use based upon your photo which is a bit hard to do.  My very old and surface rusted Spencer had metal that needed cleaning, but I did not want to re-blue the entire receiver surface, just make it look cleaner and battle used.

What I used on my Spencer was a very weak solution of Oxpho-Blue, and by weak I mean only very lightly moisten a small piece of cotton cloth and just rub over the area that needs cleaning . . . the Oxpho-Blue will do the cleaning and rust removing, but by using a very mild solution you will gradually clean the area . . . to what you want it to look like.  Slow and weak is how I approached my old Spencer.

Two Flints

[djossi@yahoo.com]

Two Flints,

Thank you for your detailed response and suggestion for a cleaning method. I'm going to follow your recommendation and use Oxpho-Blue to clean my rifle.

If you get the opportunity, I would very much appreciate it if you would post a picture of your Spencer so I can get a better idea of what my goal is. In other words, how should my rifle to look when I'm finished cleaning it.

Not to push my luck, but I also have a follow-up question. I realize that it's very difficult to tell from the photograph, but it seems to me that some of the original blueing remains on the bottom portion of the receiver. If there is any blueing left, will the Oxpho-Blue clean it or remove it?

As always, thanks!
Dave

[Two Flints]

You have to treat each Spencer as a separate and different project to clean up . . . not sure if my photos will be of help.  These are photos of my original 1860 Spencer Rifle.  I decided that less cleaning was better than trying to reblue all the metal.  I remember using lots of 0000 steel wool . . . a small piece of 0000 steel wool moistened slightly with a rust remover . . . very gently over the surface to remove surface rust, as much as I could . . . let it dry and then cleaned it with alcohol 91% let it dry . . . and then the O-B in a very WEAK solution on a small piece of cotton cloth from an old T-shirt . . . just lightly dabbed it on, no heavy rubbing, but watching to see the change in the surface area that I wanted . . .  but no two Spencers are the same . . . techniques will differ.  I don't think the O-B will remove the existing blue . . . just wipe it off if you're concerned from the blue area.





Two Flints

[KEN S]

you may want to remember the original finish was color case, and in the guns that I've worked on in the past three decades, I've noticed that the case finish rusts along the lines of the 'color'.   I've put a bluing solution on the receiver with a rag and I've noticed that the blue goes to where the color used to be.  leave it for a bit, wipe and oil and you may find some color coming back. 
   If it doesn't work, wipe it off, nothing lost...
   Ken