Calguns.net

Calguns.net (https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/index.php)
-   Gunsmithing & How To (https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/forumdisplay.php?f=114)
-   -   Best way to brown a barrel? (https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=430747)

nat 05-09-2011 9:20 AM

Best way to brown a barrel?
 
I have been slowly finishing up the Kentucky rifle I am building. It's now time to put a finish on the barrel, of course "metal browning" is preferred.

Anybody try using Plum Brown?
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=2...uct/PLUM_BROWN

Is there a better option?

Any suggestions of stain and stock finishing?

Mikeb 05-09-2011 9:52 AM

I used Plum Brown on my swivel gun and liked the process and the result. I've heard the Laurel Mnt is good but I found the Plum Brown locally. and cheaper. I think you can do rust browning with a damp box or a steamy bathroom. But the Plum Brown didn't require that so it was simpler. The finish seems pretty tough
Good luck
Mike

toby 05-09-2011 12:57 PM

I did one I will post a pic in a while ....;)

nat 05-09-2011 1:16 PM

Cool, along with how you did it, I hope :)

toby 05-09-2011 1:26 PM

Here it is I did this maybe 16-18 years ago? I used Birchwood Casey's plum brown, just follow the directions from what I recall the process was pretty easy I think I had to heat it up with a propane torch???? any way give it a try.

renardsubtil 05-16-2011 8:13 AM

I just did this to a shotgun barrel and action over the weekend. I used the Laurel Mountain browning solution and the instructions below.

http://www.laurelmountainforge.com/b...brown_inst.htm

The climate in the SF Bay were I'm from isn't very humid so I went with the bathroom approach and took a weekend to get the brown I wanted (I put about 3 layers on).

The important coating in the first coating. You want to make sure that it goes on even and that you follow the instructions to not go over the areas twice.

-Basically you should get the bathroom all steamed up with a hot shower.
-You then want to get your parts ready in a different room by getting a couple wire hangers and hang up your parts and the apply the browning solution to them (I used cotton balls, looking back now maybe a little sponge or cloth would have been better). You only need a nice sheen, don't have the parts dripping in solution.
-Check the bathroom to make sure it's got a decent steam in there (doesn't need to be a sauna in there) and then walk the parts over and hang them some place in the bathroom.
- Let the parts hang there for a better part of the day, 5 or 8 hours.
- Check the parts. You'll see a good amount of rusting on them, wipe them down with a shop paper towel until you don't see the rust on the towels anymore after each wipe.
- Bring the parts outside the bathroom again and steam up the bathroom.
- Apply another even layer to the parts
- Walk the parts back into the bathroom again.
- Repeat steps until you get the desired brown. Each layer after the initial one can be applied a little more sooner, like maybe every few hours, you basically just want to make sure the area dries off and that the rust has time to build up.

** The reason behind NOT applying the layer to the parts while your in the bathroom steaming the place up is that there's potential water streaks and beading that can occur when you apply the rusting solution - this can lead to the browning having a streaking affect and an overall uneven layer. I know this because that's exactly what I did on my first try *sad face*

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikeb (Post 6362182)
I used Plum Brown on my swivel gun and liked the process and the result. I've heard the Laurel Mnt is good but I found the Plum Brown locally. and cheaper. I think you can do rust browning with a damp box or a steamy bathroom. But the Plum Brown didn't require that so it was simpler. The finish seems pretty tough
Good luck
Mike



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 12:41 PM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.