Dumb Question - Can you blue stainless Steel?

31 July 2015, 19:40

Dick Wright

I have two brand new match barrels in lightweight contours, either of which would be perfect for my Ruger No. 1 project. I know that lightweight match barrels is an oxymoron... trust me, it's a long story.

My plans for the Ruger are for a complete custom which doesn't include a shiny barrel.

Since I'm thirty years out of date on a lot of this, is there any hope?

Thanks,

31 July 2015, 19:45

drhall762

The general answer is yes but "blueing" may be a misnomer. There are processes to blacken Stainless Steel. I have never tried one but they are all advertised as a black oxide process and offered both in shop and for "home" use.

31 July 2015, 20:10

Mikelravy

The Nylite style black matte baked on teflon finish works well on stainless and looks good to me. The last two I had done cost about $200 One of them was a Ruger with the ultra shiny finish. Talk to your smith.

31 July 2015, 21:01

dpcd

As DR said, yes, SS can be blued but not with the same salts as used for carbon steel. . If you want it painted, then you can go as Mike says; there are several products out there for that (paint).

31 July 2015, 22:19

Grenadier

Robar blackens stainless steel. This is a firearm with their blackened stainless from their website:

I used their services for a complete NP3 treatment. They had a fast turn-around and the work was exceptionally well done.

01 August 2015, 01:46

Woodhits

I've had it done by this guy:

http://gunblue.homestead.com/

With good results.

01 August 2015, 07:26

slivers

Melonite/Black Nitride "blues" SS. Bead blasted before treatment it comes real close to some rust blues.

01 August 2015, 14:33

Dick Wright

I really want rust blue... even if I have to buy a new barrel. I was afraid that I couldn't use the stainless steel one.

01 August 2015, 15:57

Grenadier

But Dick, people use stainless steel because it is resistant to rusting. Perhaps you could trade one or both of your stainless barrels for the rusting kind.

01 August 2015, 17:07

Brice

Why not Cerra Kote? It's very durable and is available in various colors, such as lime green and bright pink.

02 August 2015, 14:13

Nortman

Cerakote; Midnight Blue, looks almost like blueing.

02 August 2015, 14:14

Dick Wright

Sorry,

I'm an old guy... If I get a hunting rifle, I want good walnut and rust blued metal.

Target guns are something else again.

02 August 2015, 20:34

Don Markey

quote:
Originally posted by Dick Wright:
Sorry,

I'm an old guy... If I get a hunting rifle, I want good walnut and rust blued metal.

Target guns are something else again.

Me too. Dulite make some good chem for bluing stainless. I have the set up but don't have any chemicals anymore or I would say just bring it by.
Don

02 August 2015, 22:31

Jim Kobe

"Unico of Milwaukee" does it, google them up, they have a website.

02 August 2015, 23:30

Grenadier

The black oxide finish for stainless steel offered by both Unico of Milwaukee and Dilute is a black passivation process. It is NOT rust blue nor the same black oxide (rust) finish they use for standard steels. You cannot rust blue stainless steel because stainless steel does not rust the same way that standard steels do.

quote:
BLACK PASSIVATION (BLACK PASSIVATE) is better known as "Black Oxide Class 2, Black Oxide Class 3, or Black Oxide Class 4" for corrosion resistant steel alloys. It is a conversion coating that produces a uniform, attractive, and non-reflective black finish on stainless steels. It provides a permanent black color with exceptional strength and elasticity. The finish does not chip, peel, craze, or rub off and provides good resistance to wear and abrasion. The coating reduces friction of moving parts, preventing galling and scoring. Improved corrosion resistance is obtained and there is a negligible .00001 - .00003 dimensional change.

The blacking of stainless done by the various companies mentioned is very attractive and provides excellent protection. But the OP said, "...I want good walnut and rust blued metal". You cannot get that with stainless steel.

12 August 2015, 09:06

mehulkamdar

Joel Dorleac sent me pictures of a blued stainless rifle that he built some time ago. If I can find the CD, I'll post them here. The rifle was blued by a company called Boener in Germany, and it looked as close to traditional rust blues as anything I've seen pictures of. Joel is a nice guy to talk to, and he is good friends with many eminent US gunsmiths. You could email him and ask, too, if you'd like to.

15 August 2015, 03:53

butchlambert

So how did Remington do it? I believe there is a way to put an iron oxide finish on the barrel allowing traditional rust blue.

15 August 2015, 04:25

Mark Clark

A stainless barrel run through the hot blueing will turn grey.
In a discussion with a metallurgist a while ago he said it should be possible to plate the stainless with iron (plug the bore) and then use favorite blue. Getting the iron to adhere may be an issue if the plating company has no experience doing it. May take several tries to get right.
Plan on it being stupid expensive.

Mark

15 August 2015, 07:21

eddiel4

Dick, you may remember that I had the Hart Stainless steel barrel on my 300 "blued". It did come out quite similar to rust blueing and was done by a company called Heatbath Corp. if I recall correctly. I think they were located in ohio and I'll try locating them for you.

15 August 2015, 20:26

TomP

quote:
Originally posted by Dick Wright:

My plans for the Ruger are for a complete custom which doesn't include a shiny barrel.

Is there an anodizing process for stainless steel? I remember reading about one for titanium that was not especially complicated.

15 August 2015, 23:57

butchlambert

Anodize is for aluminum only I think. My barrels that have been Melonite treated look like rust blue.

16 August 2015, 05:05

Mark Clark

Anodized titanium comes out as bright colors without the use of dyes.

http://www.electrohio.com/Fini...zing/TiAnodizing.htm

16 August 2015, 07:02

butchlambert

quote:
Originally posted by Mark Clark:
Anodized titanium comes out as bright colors without the use of dyes.

http://www.electrohio.com/Fini...zing/TiAnodizing.htm

Hey Dick, Your barrel is SS and not titanium.

17 August 2015, 08:01

Vol717

Do you drive a Model T?

17 August 2015, 12:53

Dick Wright

Vol717... No, I drive a VW and a Porsche.

Butch, I have two lightweight stainless steel match barrels here. I think they are number two's.

They are both stamped "SS". I can't imagiine a custom rifle with good wood, a great stock and a shiny barrel. Thanks but no thanks. The whole gun will be rust blued.

I'm going to order a chrome moly barrel from Douglas today. I had really good luck with their barrels when I was shooting BR.