Bluing

[Castle50]

Basic question(s) and a search came up with a substantial amount of threads on the board so I need to narrow this down a bit

I've acquired a Wards Westernfield 22LR and it needs to be re-blued.
The last time I did this was over 30 years ago and I'm pretty sure products have changed.
Are there good products on the market for DIYers or should I look into professional restorers and/or even think about cerakote?
The rifle isn't worth that much, so doing myself is probably more financially sound.
Looking at an entire refinish including nuts, screws, etc.. not just the barrel.
What would you people recommend for a guy getting back into the hobby?

[yari]

Depends on what the end result you're looking for is. I've used brownells rust blue with great results. It's dark like black. Hot salt blueing is beautiful but not so much a DIY project unless you have many projects. Cerekote is good for a color job, not a classic look. I'd go for the brownells rust blue.

[stitchnicklas]

for budget bluing on a cheap gun i would say birchwood casey cold blue complete kits.
i have used them many times and they do work if you have Patience and a good eye for detail.



some will hate some wont ...your choice.

[tr6guns]

Most of the customers I have I try to talk them into doing a DuraCoat in HK Semigloss Black. If done right you will never have to redo and it won't rust and looks great...

[9mm1911]

I've also had very god results with brownells cold blue. If everything is thoroughly cleaned it should come out nice and dark.

+1 for Brownell's
I've tried the birchwood casey and it wasn't as good.

Brownells + some degreaser + your wifes hairdryer for heat, and your GTG

[bruceflinch]

I've done several re-cold bluing jobs w/ Birchwood Casey, Never got as good of results as I wanted. The last renovation I used Brownells OxPho Blue. Easier than the B-C & much better results!

[kcstott]

I've found formula 44 works the best as a cold blue. thing is it's still a hack job.

Either learn how to slow rust blue or sen it off to hot flash.
In reality it will look much better slow rust blued.

[Squirly]

Oxpho blue +1 w Picts

Model 12 heavy rust and pitting. Clean blasted w sand, hit w 320 paper, brake cleaned, heated in oven (important) then finished. Very dark almost black, no streaks. I'm ok w it since this was pretty bad to start w.

How do I attach images from iPhone? I have before and after shots

[Squirly]

Ok here's the barrel Oxpho blue brownells