Thread moved - Defarbing- The Logic will ultimately bear fruit

[Major 2]

A while back, I offered the tutorial in how to remove unsightly wording & nomenclature from your Replica Colt Navy.

Commonly known as Defarbing, here I will show the process I used on a Spiller & Burr...

one could remove the barrel and proceed, but the extra work is totally unnecessary.

You will have to modify your file
and you will find a small  VACUUM SUCTION BASE Vise is helpful...I had mine , I think I got on Amazon, but Harbor Freight has some or Ebay.

The gun was prior tuned to solve a minor bolt fit issue common with Piettas.

The Black powder Only & <logo> F.LLI Pietta  - Made in Italy are a glaring anachronism IMHO and had to go.

So first I cut the file ( an 8" Medium Mill ) to remove the tang , this allows you to use the file as a draw file length ways down the flat of the barrel ...

you will want to use blue painter tape to  mask the other barrel flats & I also used it to close off the frame & action

after the first 2 or three stokes you will note the roll marks actually raised the metal a bit , in fact the letters are not very deep
Only maybe 30 strokes were necessary to completely remove Black Powder only .... F.LLI Pietta part is a bit deeper and that side took 36 strokes....

It is important to clear your file about every 3rd pass to remove fillings otherwise they act as little bearings and the file skips and does not cut well ,  also they can lead to scratches which will require more work to polish out.

I used 320 Wet Dry & 400 Wet Dry , you can use water ...I tried Moose milk  because its mostly water and I had some in spray bottle... it worked just fine    

[Major 2]

Next is the finish

after polishing with the wet & dry papers ...and inspecting ... I removed the tape on the barrel
degreased with Gun-Scrubber ( again because I had some ) they make Gun Cleaner-Degreaser for bluing or you can even use Brake Cleaner
( I'm told not to use chlorinated brake cleaner, fumes are hazardous )

I had Birchwood Casey Perma Blue liquid so that was what I used , applied with cotton balls and the result was  

After


and finally before

[Major 2]

I used a 8" Medium Mill from Home Depot $9.00 a new file save extra strokes and was well worth it.

And my vise, from Amazon  I had it but as I recall about $20 with Prime's free shipping.

Note: the vice is Vacuum based and is rock solid on my marble  leather cutting top, also the pivot head allows you a very comfortable angle to draw the file....
Though not necessary,  it made the job so easy I highly recommend one,  besides I use for * stitching leather *  and 100 or more 3 handed projects.  Note: the padded jaws....

* including the holster shown

[RRio]

Great article, sir. Thank you for posting it.   

[Abilene]

Yes, nice!  I don't recall seeing this thread before.  I'm thinking defarbing a round barrel to be not so easy.  My '61 Kirst built by Jay Strite is totally defarbed.  I have no idea how that is done on a round barrel.

[Major 2]

Yes, nice!  I don't recall seeing this thread before.  I'm thinking defarbing a round barrel to be not so easy.  My '61 Kirst built by Jay Strite is totally defarbed.  I have no idea how that is done on a round barrel.

It not that hard,,. some finesse is needed.

You need set you file at about 30 degrees angel rather than draw file, then file away from you follow the curvature of the surface.
Don't back file or cross hatch file, just one direction, clear your file every 3 or four strokes of build-up.

A new fine bastard file will be the best tool, just work your way up and around the curve .
You'd want 400-600 and 800 wet dry paper and wrap these around the file for a hard surface backing for the paper...