Any recommendations for "nitre blue" touch-up?

Greg M.
[subject]
Wednesday, September 09, 2020, 15:09 (2168 days ago)

A long time ago I came into a Uberti Colt Walker replica finished entirely in nitre blue. While it looks cool, one soon comprehends why this finish is typically only used as an accent on screws and pins; wear characteristics are less than ideal, even on a "not shot a lot, carried not at all" piece. Not inclined to spend any $ to have the entire thing refinished in something more practical; would cost more than I paid for it.

On other boards I have seen Blue Wonder recommended; Cimarron Firearms says Brownells' Dicropan T-4. Can confirm from experience Birchwood Casey Permablue paste is a no-go, strips the nitre blue right off. Final solution would be to get nitre bluing salts from Brownells and DIY it, but I'm not sure that game is worth the candle. This is hardly a matter of life and death, but I know Misfits get up to some strange things and somebody out there might know One Weird Trick.

that is where the term "bluing" came from but as

Gary Reeder
[subject]
Wednesday, September 09, 2020, 15:41 (2168 days ago) @ Greg M.

you said it is very fragile. It rubs off very easily on a full gun. Not bad at all on the small parts. You can get a quarter tank from Brownells but you also need the salts, a burner that will get the metal up to very high temps plus lots of other small stuff. The vapors are very strong and can really mess you up. On a full gun it is very hard to get decent coverage as some parts get up to temp before the rest of it. A heavy cylinder like on the Walker can be a nightmare as it is such a big blob of steel and takes so long to bring it to the high temps you need for a Nitre Blue finish. And 5 degrees under what you need will turn it purple, 5 degrees over what you want will turn it black. So it is a headache. My recommendation would be to either sell it or save your money and have it done in a good strong blue and leave the Nitre Blue small parts the color they are.

That’s a pro set up. I have been intrigued about

WB
[subject]
Wednesday, September 09, 2020, 16:01 (2168 days ago) @ Gary Reeder

The “straw” coloring on European guns from the turn of the last century. A low temp yellow or gold type finish that does the same thing as blue. Retards early forms of pitting type oxidation. You can do it in your oven at home, no chemicals needed. I’d love to try some small parts myself. Would look boss on a Hi-Power etc.

it needs to be immersed in a tank at around 500 degrees

Gary Reeder
[subject]
Wednesday, September 09, 2020, 16:39 (2168 days ago) @ WB

for a few minutes. The oven doesn't work very well. Not hot enough and one side will color while the other side doesn't. We do a lot of it and to do it right you need a tank and special salts. Plus the heating unit etc.

Thank you for the responses, gents

Greg M.
[subject]
Wednesday, September 09, 2020, 16:54 (2168 days ago) @ Gary Reeder

Sounds like home nitre bluing is not for me. I have neither space for the equipment nor the requisite technical skills.

I think my best options are A) leave 'er ugly or B) decide to go all in on a custom cartridge conversion. $$$ but I would actually shoot it more often than once every 10 years. Like many (I think) I developed a mania for percussion/BP revolvers, picked up half a dozen on the cheap, futzed around with them regularly for a year or so, and then left them gathering dust.

Does anyone have experience with this guy? He specializes in custom cartridge conversions. http://cartridgeconversion.com/SERVICES.php

IT IS NOT UGLY!! IT PROBABLY

JT
[subject]
Wednesday, September 09, 2020, 21:25 (2168 days ago) @ Greg M.

SHOWS A LOT OF CHARACTER. USE IT AND ENJOY IT. WHY ARE THEY GATHERING DUST????

KIRST CONVERTERS WORK FINE.

JT
[subject]
Wednesday, September 09, 2020, 21:26 (2168 days ago) @ JT

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