{"id":33373,"date":"2023-06-25T18:02:03","date_gmt":"2023-06-25T18:02:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/?p=33373"},"modified":"2023-06-25T18:18:15","modified_gmt":"2023-06-25T18:18:15","slug":"cold-bluing-parts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/?p=33373","title":{"rendered":"Cold Bluing Parts"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class='__iawmlf-post-loop-links' style='display:none;' data-iawmlf-post-links='[{&quot;id&quot;:1961,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.ballisticstudies.com\\\/Knowledgebase\\\/.338-06+A-Square.html&quot;,&quot;archived_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;redirect_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;checks&quot;:[],&quot;broken&quot;:false,&quot;last_checked&quot;:null,&quot;process&quot;:&quot;done&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:1962,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.azom.com\\\/article.aspx?ArticleID=6769&quot;,&quot;archived_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;redirect_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;checks&quot;:[],&quot;broken&quot;:false,&quot;last_checked&quot;:null,&quot;process&quot;:&quot;done&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:1963,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/pacifictoolandgauge.com\\\/1439-savage-recoil-lugs&quot;,&quot;archived_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;redirect_href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.pacifictoolandgauge.com\\\/1439-savage-recoil-lugs&quot;,&quot;checks&quot;:[],&quot;broken&quot;:false,&quot;last_checked&quot;:null,&quot;process&quot;:&quot;done&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:1964,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.themccluskeyarmscompany.com\\\/feat-of-the-week-gunsmithing-blog\\\/feat-of-the-week-making-bluing-tanks&quot;,&quot;archived_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;redirect_href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/mccluskeyarms.com\\\/feat-of-the-week-gunsmithing-blog\\\/feat-of-the-week-making-bluing-tanks&quot;,&quot;checks&quot;:[],&quot;broken&quot;:false,&quot;last_checked&quot;:null,&quot;process&quot;:&quot;done&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:1965,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.turnbullrestoration.com\\\/restoration-services\\\/rust-bluing&quot;,&quot;archived_href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/web-wp.archive.org\\\/web\\\/20260117223617\\\/https:\\\/\\\/www.turnbullrestoration.com\\\/restoration-services\\\/rust-bluing\\\/&quot;,&quot;redirect_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;checks&quot;:[{&quot;date&quot;:&quot;2026-04-15 21:23:02&quot;,&quot;http_code&quot;:200},{&quot;date&quot;:&quot;2026-05-02 01:32:05&quot;,&quot;http_code&quot;:200},{&quot;date&quot;:&quot;2026-05-08 07:13:29&quot;,&quot;http_code&quot;:200}],&quot;broken&quot;:false,&quot;last_checked&quot;:{&quot;date&quot;:&quot;2026-05-08 07:13:29&quot;,&quot;http_code&quot;:200},&quot;process&quot;:&quot;done&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:1966,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.brownells.com\\\/tools-cleaning\\\/paint-metal-prep\\\/metal-bluing\\\/formula-4440-instant-gun-blue&quot;,&quot;archived_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;redirect_href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.brownells.com\\\/tools-cleaning\\\/paint-metal-prep\\\/metal-bluing\\\/formula-4440-instant-gun-blue\\\/&quot;,&quot;checks&quot;:[],&quot;broken&quot;:false,&quot;last_checked&quot;:null,&quot;process&quot;:&quot;done&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:1967,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/amzn.to\\\/3Nimz0A&quot;,&quot;archived_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;redirect_href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.amazon.com\\\/Brownell-Formula-Instant-Gun-Blue\\\/dp\\\/B00IYZBWC8?crid=3NYNL57Z7UN3R&amp;keywords=brownells+44\\\/40&amp;qid=1687714050&amp;sprefix=brownells+44\\\/40,aps,121&amp;sr=8-1&amp;linkCode=sl1&amp;tag=nolaonguanmo-20&amp;linkId=e9a7c808280af523a9c71ed904a8dcdc&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl&quot;,&quot;checks&quot;:[],&quot;broken&quot;:false,&quot;last_checked&quot;:null,&quot;process&quot;:&quot;done&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:1968,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.brownells.com\\\/tools-cleaning\\\/paint-metal-prep\\\/metal-bluing\\\/oxpho-blue&quot;,&quot;archived_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;redirect_href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.brownells.com\\\/tools-cleaning\\\/paint-metal-prep\\\/metal-bluing\\\/oxpho-blue\\\/&quot;,&quot;checks&quot;:[],&quot;broken&quot;:false,&quot;last_checked&quot;:null,&quot;process&quot;:&quot;done&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:1969,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.birchwoodcasey.com\\\/gun-refinishing\\\/metal&quot;,&quot;archived_href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/web-wp.archive.org\\\/web\\\/20260123181125\\\/https:\\\/\\\/www.birchwoodcasey.com\\\/gun-refinishing\\\/metal\\\/&quot;,&quot;redirect_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;checks&quot;:[{&quot;date&quot;:&quot;2026-04-15 21:25:00&quot;,&quot;http_code&quot;:200},{&quot;date&quot;:&quot;2026-05-02 01:32:11&quot;,&quot;http_code&quot;:200}],&quot;broken&quot;:false,&quot;last_checked&quot;:{&quot;date&quot;:&quot;2026-05-02 01:32:11&quot;,&quot;http_code&quot;:200},&quot;process&quot;:&quot;done&quot;}]'><\/div>\n<p>I am not a gunsmith nor do I play one on television. That said, I like to be able to do minor things such as mount a scope or assemble an AR lower. I can add something new to my repertoire &#8211; cold bluing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I am having a friend help me re-barrel my older Savage 111 to<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ballisticstudies.com\/Knowledgebase\/.338-06+A-Square.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> .338-06 A-Square.<\/a><\/strong> Since I was going to all this trouble I thought I should put a new recoil lug on it. The factory recoil lug is stamped whereas a high quality machined lug would be parallel front and back. I got one in <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.azom.com\/article.aspx?ArticleID=6769\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">4140 alloy steel<\/a><\/strong> from <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pacifictoolandgauge.com\/1439-savage-recoil-lugs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pacific Tool and Gauge<\/a><\/strong> that was 0.228 inches thick. I could have gone with stainless but the rest of the rifle is blued.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image-11.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-33374\" srcset=\"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image-11.png 250w, https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image-11-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>To protect the steel from rusting, I could have just painted it with anything from Rust-Oleum to VHT auto paint. However, paint can chip. What doesn&#8217;t chip is bluing nor does it change the dimensions of the part. I don&#8217;t have access to a<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.themccluskeyarmscompany.com\/feat-of-the-week-gunsmithing-blog\/feat-of-the-week-making-bluing-tanks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> hot bluing tank<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.turnbullrestoration.com\/restoration-services\/rust-bluing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">rust bluing<\/a><\/strong> would have taken more time than I wanted to devote to this. So that left cold bluing. There were many different products to choose from but eventually I went with <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brownells.com\/tools-cleaning\/paint-metal-prep\/metal-bluing\/formula-4440-instant-gun-blue\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Brownell&#8217;s Formula 44\/40 Instant Gun Blue<\/a><\/strong> which I ordered from <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3Nimz0A\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Amazon<\/a><\/strong>. I have chatted with a tech at Brownell&#8217;s before I placed my order and he confirmed it would work on my steel alloy.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image-12.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-33375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image-12.png 500w, https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image-12-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image-12-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><figcaption>Photo from Brownell&#8217;s website<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The whole process could not have been simpler. I think from start to finish it took less than 20 minutes while sitting at our kitchen table. I started by cleaning all the oils off the recoil lug with brake cleaner (outside!). I cleaned it twice. While it was drying I assembled some Q-tips, cotton balls, and gauze. Then, while wearing nitrile gloves, I heated up the lug using a hair dryer. When it was hot to the touch, I applied the first coat of Formula 44\/40 and then wiped it off. I ran it under hot water to neutralize the bluing and then dried it off. Checking it over, I decided a second coat was needed and repeated heating it with a hair dryer. I gave the lug a good, liberal coat of the bluing and then wiped it off. After rinsing in hot water again, I coated it in Ballistol gun oil and put it in a ziplock bag. The lug now has a dark blue matte finish which will match the rest of the rifle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I&#8217;m not sure if I&#8217;d do a whole gun or even a barrel with cold bluing but for a small part it was perfect. I think it is also great for touching up scratches or wear spots. As to the Brownell&#8217;s Formula 44\/40, it worked well for me. Brownells also has <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brownells.com\/tools-cleaning\/paint-metal-prep\/metal-bluing\/oxpho-blue\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Oxpho-Blue<\/a><\/strong> which has a good reputation. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.birchwoodcasey.com\/gun-refinishing\/metal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Birchwood Casey<\/a><\/strong> is another company making a number of cold bluing products. As with all things, ask questions and go from there.<\/p>\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;\" class=\"sharethis-inline-share-buttons\" ><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I am not a gunsmith nor do I play one on television. That said, I like to be able&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":2,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[362,6499,6500,2020],"class_list":["post-33373","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-brownells","tag-cold-bluing","tag-formula-44-40-instant-cold-blue","tag-gunsmithing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33373","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=33373"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33373\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33379,"href":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33373\/revisions\/33379"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=33373"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=33373"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=33373"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}