Removing bluing????

[Bugscuffle]

Is there a chemical way of removing bluing from steel? Obviously a wire wheel and/or buffing wheel will do it, but I want to preserve the markings on this pistol as much as possible. I have been told that vinegar will do it, but again I'm hesitant to put any kind of a corrosive on this gun even as weak as vinegar unless I know that it will remove the bluing and I can do it without damaging the gun.

[Stu Kettle]

accidentally got some naval jelly on a gun once - took the blue off right now

[St. George]

So will 'Vanish' toilet bowl cleaner.

After you've removed the bluing - finish ensuring you've degreased the weapon, polish as needed then re-clean and re-blue.

Scouts Out!

[Bugscuffle]

Between the two so far mentioned, I think I'll try the Naval Jelly. I am not speaking from experience and am not a chemist, but Vanish seems to me to be a little too strong a corrosive for this one. Although it's not a super high dollar gun it's out of MY price range and it is a fairly scarce one. It's an original Colt Lightning. It has some non original parts on it, so it's not a collector and the owner wants it re-blued.

[Abilene]

Have used Naval Jelly and Birchwood Casey Rust and Blue Remover.  Really puts out the fumes so good ventillation needed.

[Bonnie_blue1861]

If you place the part in a plastic container and bathe it in vinegar it takes the bluing off. The nice thing is you can control the amount of bluing this method removes depending on how long you let the parts submerged and if you wipe them as you go. About 2 minutes and a lot of  the bluing will start to come off with vinegar.

I'd suggest a plastic pan/tray to do this. But... I've used cheap aluminum pie pans before.

I once tried spray on oven/range kitchen cleaner once.... and it actually ate right through the pie pan and turned the aluminum pan all brittle. It worked great to artificially age wooden grips...not so effective to remove bluing.

The easiest way is vinegar... but be careful it comes off fast--- so if you just want to lighten the blueing, just do around 15-20 seconds at a time then take it out and wipe it off real well, with an old tee shirt.... repeat til you get the desired effect.

If you want all the bluing off... a 4-5 minute soak will typically do the job and give you bare steel. I did a finial clean off with auto parts store brake cleaner (which makes a bare piece of steel to flash rust very quickly). I was amazed just how good vinegar is at stripping bluing the first time I did it.

[Reverend P. Babcock Chase]

Howdy Bugs,

I have used regular white vinegar with great success. You probably already have some in the pantry. It's not instant but it's pretty quick. I found that it lets you "age" the finish to the patina you want, then it can rinsed with water and dried in a warm oven. After that you can rust, polish, brown or do what you want to get the look you're going for. See Longshot Logan's (R.I.P.) directions on antiquing, too.

Reverend Chase

ps: Just saw Bonnie's post. It's right on the mark and also proves I'm not full off horse stuff.

[John Taylor]

For re-blue I just send to Doyle's gun shop. He does 40 to 60 guns a week and has very fast turnaround. Most rifle/pistols run under $100. http://fflgundealers.net/mel-doyles-gun-shop.html

[Pettifogger]

The suggestion of using a wire wheel sends shivers down my spine.  More antique guns have been ruined by using a wire wheel on them than any other cause.

[john323]

Evaporust...it can be used over again ,has no smell and removes all blue and any rust that is there. You can find it at a car parts shop.

[Pettifogger]

I suppose someone should ask why the OP is removing the bluing.  OP, why are you removing the bluing?  What effect are you trying to create?  Remember, many of the chemicals recommended will leave the surface like it has been etched.  It ain't gonna come out bright and shiny.

[Bugscuffle]

It's all a moot point now. The owner and I talked it over and I finally convinced him that it is not possible to take a gun that old and with the surface pitting (not serious, but it was visible) and it was pretty evenly distrfibuted. The only way to get that out was to polish it out and that woud probably harm if not eliminate some of the markings.

[Delmonico]

Coca Cola works good also if this comes up again.  Of course some people would rather drink it, I alway keep a 2 liter bottle in the workshop, it does a lot of things.

[Virginia Gentleman]

Look up a product called Evapo-rust.

[Pancho Peacemaker]

Pace Picante Sauce

This is not a joke.  It works.  Ive seen it.

[Bugscuffle]

Pace Picante Sauce

This is not a joke.  It works.  Ive seen it.

There's probably enough acid in that salsa that it could take the chrome off of a trailer hitch. Hmmm mabe if I just rub it down with a habenero......

[Blair]

Cool!

But once you have removed the bluing... how do you stop or neutralize the reaction?

[Pancho Peacemaker]

Cool!

But once you have removed the bluing... how do you stop or neutralize the reaction?

Rince with warm soapy water, dry, then oil.