I found this industrial metal finish on the B/C website. From the description, it sounds like it would make a heckuva good gun finish (i.e. lubricity, anti-galling, high corrosion resistance). The silver-black color is not objectionable to me, but others may differ. Has anyone tried this on a firearm? The application sounds like you could just heat it up and pour it over the parts(120-140 degrees). I wonder if it would help with barrel fouling(lubricity)?

http://www.birchwoodcasey.com/microlok/index.html

I tried "black oxide" and found the wear to be, well, not great. I'll call BC tomorrow and ask about gunsmithing application of these several products ....

I called BC and spoke with Mark R.
The Microlock is comparable to a phosphate finish .. kind of dark grey, but tougher finish that black oxide, and does not smell .. $100 bot a gallon that is diluted to 10%...

the TruTemp DOES do a nice bluing, though NOT ever going to give a gloss finish .. why? thanks for asking ..
It is a 2 stage process .. rinse and then acid pickle, then put in the trutemp, at 200, rather than 300, degs. It'll cost you about $500 to get into this ..

Both offer less than 295 degree alternatives .. and both are STATED to not have heavy metals.

I might look into the trutemp the next itme i have to redo my salt bath ..

jeffe

Thanks Jeff. That all sounds pretty reasonable compared to a regular hot blue setup. The different color contrasts present some nice possibilities. I like to rust blue so the matte finish would appeal to me. If I want it shinier, I can always put a coat of auto lacquer over the blue. If you let it cure for a week and then rub out and wax, it makes a great topcoat that is pretty fingerprint and weatherproof. If I get tired of it or it gets scratched, I can always strip it.