Hot bluing

[1911whore]

Does anyone have a hot blue recipe?

[compulsivegunbuyer]

I've done it. It's pretty simple actually. 5lbs lye, has to be pure lye, 2 1/2 pounds sodium nitrate, 1 gallon water. Heat the solution to 280-290 degrees. Whatever you are bluing has to be clean, completely clean. Submerse it in the solution for around 20 minutes. Pull it out, check the progress, transfer it to boiling water. Use an iron or steel pot, no stainless.

People get all hysterical like you are enriching uranium in a home centrifuge or something, but in reality, use a little common sense, and you will be fine. The lye increases the boiling point of the solution. As water evaporates, you have to add more. Ladel water from your boiling water pot. Do not add cold water, it will sink below the surface, turn to steam, and blow caustic lye all over the place. Sit the ladle on top of the solution, to heat it to temp, and gently spread it on top. The boiling point increases as the water evaporates, and you are bringing it back down adding water. You will need a thermometer, and you will use it as a guide. You will get a feel for it right away, and you will be shocked how easy a caustic oxide coating is to do.

Wear an apron, gloves, and face shield. Add the lye and nitrate mixture to the water slowly while mixing. Don't pour cold water into the hot solution. Do it outside. Follow these simple rules, and you will not have any issues. Also, keep vinegar in a spray bottle on hand to neutralize any lye if you get a drop on you.

The prep and polish is where the work is, the finishing process is easy. You can also use ammonium nitrate or potassium nitrate. Just keep in mind that if you use ammonium nitrate, it will release ammonia gas for the first 30 minutes or so.