Guys,

In the near future I am going to try rust bluing with Gun Goddess.

What areas of a Mauser action should be protected during the process so that metal is not lost? Barrel threads, locking lug inside the receiver, etc?

What material works best for this?

Thanks!!!

Dear Mike:

I have not used Gun Goddess, but only Mark Lee Rust Blue.

When I rust blue, I fill the barrel threads, magazine screw threads, trigger fulcrum hole and if its drilled and tapped, the scope base threads with RTV, Permatex, silicon. I let it set up over night, sand off any over run, then zap it with a bit of brake cleaner, and go to town.

In the past, I did not fill the aforesaid threads and holes, and after the third rust bluing (was still learning and making mistakes), I began to have problems with sloppy thread fit.

It appears from my limited experience, you can blue the threads once or twice and get away with it.

As far as the locking lugs are concerned, even after three separate rust bluings, I had no measurable increase in headspace.

Gun Goddess may be more aggressive, and you may have to spread some RTV onto the lug seats.

Sincerely,

Chris Bemis

I just paint the surface or area I don't want blued with clear laquer and clean it off with acetone when done.

I haven't found protecting those areas important at all.

I don't apply any solution to the lugs or threads so usually get just a slight discoloration at most. Threads and lugs traditionally aren't blued when rust bluing. They just don't need it.

I apply a light grease or neversieze compound to threads just to make disassembly easier...so the threads are protected anyway.

when rust bluing do you coat the bore with Lacuer or Lee Liquid alox? I have a barrel I rust blued and the bore appears to be etched.

I thought bores should be plugged with wooden dowel. How do you guys do it?

I agree with Scrollcutter...only mild discoloraion...plugging the bore will cause more grief than they will prevent, though I do run a patch with "Sea Fin" tru the bore the day before...sometimes forget...can't tell the difference.

quote:

Originally posted by buckbrush:
when rust bluing do you coat the bore with Lacuer or Lee Liquid alox? I have a barrel I rust blued and the bore appears to be etched.

Don't even think about using Lee Liquid Alox, it is oil based and oil contamination is the last thing that you want during the cold rust blue process.