Color Case Hardening Question

[Rube Burrows]

I was just curious, I have read that some companies such as Ruger used to do a chemical Color Case Hardening. My question is....how is that done? Is this something that can be done at home?

I have a couple low value firearms that are not really worth sending to get it done....but if the chemical way can be done at home then that might be worth it.

[Patrick Henry Brown]

I was just curious, I have read that some companies such as Ruger used to do a chemical Color Case Hardening. My question is....how is that done? Is this something that can be done at home?

I have a couple low value firearms that are not really worth sending to get it done....but if the chemical way can be done at home then that might be worth it.

Rube:

What I've done in the past is to clean and deblue, then heat in an oven until a drop of water evaporates quickly. Then dob on cold bluing (such as Birchwood Casey) with a q-tip in a random pattern, filling in as you go. This will yield a quick faux color-case job. When through, let cool and oil down with your favorite gun oil.

[Rube Burrows]

Rube:

What I've done in the past is to clean and deblue, then heat in an oven until a drop of water evaporates quickly. Then dob on cold bluing (such as Birchwood Casey) with a q-tip in a random pattern, filling in as you go. This will yield a quick faux color-case job. When through, let cool and oil down with your favorite gun oil.

I'll play around with that and see what I can come up with. I didnt know that would give me the color case look. Thanks.

[Coffinmaker]

FWIW, Ruger "Color Case Hardening" doesn't harden anything.  Sort of like lipstick.  Pretty but it doesn't last long

Coffinmaker

[Rube Burrows]

FWIW, Ruger "Color Case Hardening" doesn't harden anything.  Sort of like lipstick.  Pretty but it doesn't last long

Coffinmaker

I had two of them. One start going away QUICK.....the other lasted for as long as I had it.