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Rust bluing vs hot bluing
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Having bolt, new safety, bases added to Mauser. Will re-blue, no polishing required. What is the advantage, if any, of rust over hot blue? Thanks, Bob
 
Posts: 677 | Location: Florida | Registered: 04 January 2005Reply With Quote
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Rust blue is much more durable.
 
Posts: 8169 | Location: humboldt | Registered: 10 April 2002Reply With Quote
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Rust bluing is easier to do and requires less equipment :-)
 
Posts: 6526 | Location: NY, NY | Registered: 28 November 2005Reply With Quote
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Guys, If it's easy, why is it so costly? I have seen quotes from $350-$700 to slow rust blue a bolt gun.
 
Posts: 677 | Location: Florida | Registered: 04 January 2005Reply With Quote
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Rust blue looks better IMO. All you need is some patience, and something to boil the blued parts in. You might consider Laurel Mountain if you are a first timer. The product is fairly inexpensive and pretty forgiving. Cool


Jim
 
Posts: 1210 | Location: Memphis, TN | Registered: 25 January 2008Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by VFR1:
Guys, If it's easy, why is it so costly? I have seen quotes from $350-$700 to slow rust blue a bolt gun.


It's time consuming and somewhat detail oriented. The prices you sited I'm sure include disasembly, assembly, along with the polishing and other prep work.
 
Posts: 8169 | Location: humboldt | Registered: 10 April 2002Reply With Quote
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Posts: 8169 | Location: humboldt | Registered: 10 April 2002Reply With Quote
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There has been some signifigant arguement about whether or not rust blue really is that much more durable than hot blue. D'Arcy did some tests and concluded that Rust bluing wasn't.

Rust Blueing IMO have a special look too it, but it is a PITA to do. They charge as much as they do because it's probably not worth doing for much less.

Hot Blue is as or almost as durable and far easier if you have the setup and far less expensive to have done if you don't.

I'll Rust Blue a few special rifles but they need to be REAL special to motivate me to do the work!....................DJ


....Remember that this is all supposed to be for fun!..................
 
Posts: 3976 | Location: Oklahoma,USA | Registered: 27 February 2004Reply With Quote
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Some people do a bead blast and then hot blue to get a finish that looks similar to rust blueing...aka matte


Mike

Legistine actu quod scripsi?

Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.




What I have learned on AR, since 2001:
1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken.
2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps.
3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges.
4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down.
5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine.
6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle.
7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions.
8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA.
9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not.
10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact.
11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores.
12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence.
13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances.
 
Posts: 10169 | Location: Loving retirement in Boise, ID | Registered: 16 December 2003Reply With Quote
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Yes it is a PITA. I do it, but it's not a real thrill. Done right, the end result is worth, IMO.
 
Posts: 8169 | Location: humboldt | Registered: 10 April 2002Reply With Quote
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It's not economical to crank up & hot-blue for only one rifle but rust blue can be done readily for just one part. The amount of setup & operation labor for hot-bluing becomes really economical only when bluing more than about 3-4 rifles at once.

The Spousal Unit, SHE Who Must Be Appeased, won't be too upset about boiling water in her kitchen but I can assure you that hot-bluing REQUIRES a separate space if you don't wanta be sleeping in the doghouse.

And don't think you can do hot-bluing in your shop, either. It requires at least a separate room with excellent ventilation. And a set of old clothes with rubber gloves & boots. And a mask.
Regards, Joe


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Posts: 2756 | Location: deep South | Registered: 09 December 2008Reply With Quote
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OK..so... what outfits do hot bluing.

Rich
 
Posts: 6526 | Location: NY, NY | Registered: 28 November 2005Reply With Quote
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Rust blue when done to perfection is the most beautiful finish I have ever seen IMHO.
 
Posts: 1004 | Registered: 08 November 2005Reply With Quote
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Thanks Guys, still wondering if the rust blue is worth 3 times the $ over a fine bead blast blue. I am sure the gent that has my Mauser would do the job to perfection.
 
Posts: 677 | Location: Florida | Registered: 04 January 2005Reply With Quote
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Originally posted by richj:
OK..so... what outfits do hot bluing.

Rich


These guys do nice work and the prices are reasonable.

http://www.hotflashrefinishing.com/
 
Posts: 8169 | Location: humboldt | Registered: 10 April 2002Reply With Quote
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Craig, I called these guys and they said just send the rings, bases, bolt/safety and if their 400grit polish blue doesn't match, then send the bbl/action. The existing finish is perfect, range time only. $40 includes return shipping. Thanks for the tip. Bob
 
Posts: 677 | Location: Florida | Registered: 04 January 2005Reply With Quote
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Originally posted by VFR1:
Craig, I called these guys and they said just send the rings, bases, bolt/safety and if their 400grit polish blue doesn't match, then send the bbl/action. The existing finish is perfect, range time only. $40 includes return shipping. Thanks for the tip. Bob


Let us know how it turns out.
 
Posts: 8169 | Location: humboldt | Registered: 10 April 2002Reply With Quote
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