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Click
on any of the small "Figure" images below to see a larger version
of the image.
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 When
I first picked up the Vz24 in this article, it had very little blueing
left on the receiver and barrel (as shown in figures 1 and
2). I had received an email from a reader that offered an
interesting approach to cold reblueing a rifle.
The article below is Stephan's contribution, with a few minor
additions by me. The rifle and photos are of me trying out Stephan's
recommendations.
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Note: All of the chemicals used
in this article are caustic and will cause skin and eye damage.
Please where gloves and eye protection. |
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I've been gunsmithing
for twenty years and have picked up a trick or two that might be
useful to my fellow gun enthusiast - Stephan D. Horak
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You can remove blueing with
Naval Jelly® Rust Dissolver (Naval
Jelly technically being a brand of jelly containing
phosphoric acid)
or equivalent, it's a considerably cheaper than the Birchwood Casey
brands. |
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As you can see in figures 4 and
5, the
Naval Jelly removes the old blueing completely, leaving
only bare metal. |
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If you want to put on a molted or antique style finish using
cold blueing: Remove all the old blueing, clean and warm water rinse.
Make a strong chlorine solution (oxidizer) using either bleach or
pool chlorine and soak the parts for an hour or so, then clear water
rinse.
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Note: I found it necessary to steel
wool the parts lightly as a result of the chlorine causing the metal
to rust. I did this prior to reblueing. |
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The parts should look slightly hazed
if not soak it a little longer, clear warm water rinse again. |
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Once the parts are cleaned and rinsed
apply your blueing solution and clear water rinse again.
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Make a soapy solution using "Dawn"
dish wash (high phosphate content), wash the parts in this solution.
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Clear water rinse again and repeat
blueing until you get the desired shade. then wash, rinse and dry.
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Surface areas have been forced oxidized
with the chlorine and blueing solutions and the dish water rinses.
This has set up a surface electrolysis allowing for better oxidation.
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Polish off the parts with Butcher's
or Johnson's Paste Wax. The paste wax stops the process and seals
in the finish. |
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Because of different absorption rates
in the base steel the oxidation will occur at different rates giving
a dark molted appearance. |
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