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removing bluing from a barrel

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jmaubin

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I've been building a DGW's "Super Cub". the barrel came with a light coating of blue. I wish to brown the barrel. On pistol kits I have used a shallow pan, vinegar and this worked very well on smaller parts in a pistol kit. Now the barrel on this rifle is a bit longer. So any suggestion yawl may have on longer items would be very helpful.
 
Same thing. Vinegar is the cheapest. What you can do is go buy a couple of the big bottles of vinegar from your local dollar store. take two trash plastic bags. put one bag in the other for a double bag. put the barrel in. Pour in the vinegar. Squeeze it to get the air out then tie it up. Leave it in for a couple hours. Turning it once in a while to make sure its evenly done. Then take it out and wash it with hot soapy water. It should be the way you need it.
 
I did something by accident that turned out great. I had a virgin steel barrel and blued it using Wonder Blue. It was my first time and I didn't realize the need to oil the barrel right away, so I left it not more than 48 hours, but I think only 24. Anyway, it rusted completely on the outside.

I then used the cleaner/rust remover that came with the Wonder Blue Kit and got it down to just a hint of brown left on the barrel and blued it again, this time oiling it immediately. It turned out to be a gorgeous blue with brown undertones and I was very happy with the outcome.

In answer to your question,though, yeah the vinegar in trash bags. What about soaking paper towels wrapped around the barrel? Would that help to keep everything even?
 
Buy a short length of 1 3/4" or 2" PVC plastic pipe at the local hardware, two end caps for the pipe, pipe cleaner and pipe cement. Clean and glue one cap on one end, let cure per glue manufacturer's instructions. Place the barrel in the pipe, pour in the vinegar to cover the barrel and place the other cap on the end without glue. Wait 24 hours, pour out the vinegar and pour in hot soapy water. Remove barrel and rinse in clear hot water.

scrat's method is less expensive, mine is less messy.
 
How about just getting a piece of PVC pipe large enough in diameter and long enough to accomodate the barrel? Glue a cap one end and secure it in an upright position. Then plug both ends of the barrel, insert it into the PVC pipe, fill with vinegar, and await results.:)

Oops! Mykeal, you're a faster typist than I.
 
Best deal going is Brownells Steel White. Used it for years. Wipe blue and rust, unlike Naval Jelly or other acidic strippers it wont etch the metal itself. Hydrogen Peroxide sometimes is a great stripper as well in its more potent concentrations
 
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