Birchwood Casey Gun Blue...

strummer Jun 6, 2020

  1. strummer

    strummer TrainBoard Member

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    I was very pleased with how well this stuff worked on that Ulrich truck frame:

    6:2:1.jpg

    ...so I decided to try it with something else.

    I have a bunch of old metal dummy couplers: have no idea of the make; just has an "E" cast into the bottom. I gave one an hour to "pickle" in the vinegar, then dipped into the "BC" gun blue. Here it is, between a painted example and an unaltered one:

    couplers.jpg

    As you can see, it goes on very smoothly and, being what is basically a stain, hides nothing in the form of detail.

    Dunno if this is of any interest, but what the heck... :)

    Mark in Oregon
     
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  2. VinceP

    VinceP TrainBoard Member

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    Nice where do you get the powder.
     
  3. wvgca

    wvgca TrainBoard Member

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    it's not a powder, it's a liquid ....
    small bottle at gun shops or -most- walmarts
     
  4. VinceP

    VinceP TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks not a gun person so didn't know I'll have to check it out.

    Much appreciated
     
  5. wvgca

    wvgca TrainBoard Member

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    It's relatively cheap, about four bucks .... you can also get blackening for steel or aluminum...
     
  6. strummer

    strummer TrainBoard Member

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    Not a "gun person" per se either; but you never know what might work...

    Gee, I may have to get some of the "black" stuff and try that too. :)

    Mark in Oregon
     
  7. wvgca

    wvgca TrainBoard Member

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    It's not a paint or a dye really, more of a chemical reaction, that's why the different mixes ..
    You can get it in bigger sizes, up to a gallon I think, from Brownells and others , comes in handy ...
     
  8. VinceP

    VinceP TrainBoard Member

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    Wonder if it'll work on plastic also hmmmmmmmmmmmm.
     
  9. wvgca

    wvgca TrainBoard Member

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    only if it's coated with steel or aluminum ...
     
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  10. Mr. Trainiac

    Mr. Trainiac TrainBoard Member

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    How does this compare to Neolube? I see that in the Micromark catalog all the time, but are you able to use this for the same purpose as Neolube? From what I understand, gun blue is a degreaser, but is it safe to paint over? The couplers and truck look pretty smooth, so obviously it works well and gives them an industrial look, but what was the intent of using it on a die-cast truck in the first place?

    As a side note, I think I have a few of those cast couplers that came with a Ye Olde Huff n' Puff kit.
     
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  11. wvgca

    wvgca TrainBoard Member

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    ah .. gun blue is not a degreaser, and you don't paint over it ...
    it's a totally different formulation than neolube ..
     
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  12. strummer

    strummer TrainBoard Member

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    ...just wanted to try it, I guess. :)

    Mark in Oregon
     
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  13. dalebaker

    dalebaker TrainBoard Member

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    Older guns were brown, gets me to thinking, could you use brown to age nickel silver track?
     
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  14. wvgca

    wvgca TrainBoard Member

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    not sure, you should be able to, old henry rifles had a brass action, and nickel silver track is mostly copper, so it -should- work ?? try it and find out ??
     
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  15. dalebaker

    dalebaker TrainBoard Member

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    I believe I have some, I believe I will.
    Thanks!
     
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  16. wvgca

    wvgca TrainBoard Member

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    if you are going to use browning, get the one designed for brass, it's different than the one designed for steel [as far as I know]
     
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  17. dalebaker

    dalebaker TrainBoard Member

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    Ok, what I have is for steel, I will have to see if I can find the other.
    Thanks!
     
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  18. Massey

    Massey TrainBoard Member

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    Any bluing/browning or “antiquing” simply uses a chemical reaction to oxidize the base metal in a controlled and much more appealing look than natural oxidation. Keeping the free electron In the base metal busy with the bluing is what prevents it from rusting or growing fuzzy green stuff. Unfortunately it’s never a perfect process and it only takes 1 atom that isn’t bound to start the natural oxidation process and ruin your finish.
     
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