â â NitreBlueâ Bluingâ isâ aâ controlledâ heatingâ processâ thatâ willâ colorâvirtuallyâallâcarbonâandâtoolâsteels.âTheâsameâNitreBlueâBluingâSaltsâcanâbeâusedâtoâdrawâtheâtemperâonâsteelâpartsâthatâhaveâbeenâhard-ened,âsuchâasâknifeâbladesâandâtools.âStainlessâsteelâbladesâandâtoolsâcanâbeâdrawn,âbutâwillânotâcolorâdueâtoâtheâcompositionâofâtheâsteel.âOtherâusesâincludeâheatâtreatingâparts,âespeciallyâsprings,âtoâgetâtheâproperâcombinationâofâhardnessâandâtoughnessâtoâdoâtheâjobârequiredâofâthem.â â Unlikeâconventionalâhotâsaltsâbluing,âNitreBlueâBluingâcanâproduceâaâwideârangeâofâcolor,âfromâaâpaleâyellowââstrawââcolor,âtoâaâdeep,âblackâblue.âTheâfinalâcolorâofâtheâpartâ isâdeterminedâbyâtheâfollowingâfourâfactors:â1)âTheâtemperatureâofâtheâNitreBlueâBluingâBath;â2)âTheâtimeâtheâpartsâareâleftâinâtheâBluingâBath;â3)âTheâwayâtheâmetalâwasâpre-paredâandâpolished;â4)âTheâcompositionâofâtheâalloyâbeingâNitreBlueâBlued.â Inârecentâtimes,â thisâ finishâhasâbeenâusedâmainlyâbyâcustomâgunâ makersâ andâ restorationâ shopsâ toâ achieveâ aâ âbrightâ peacockâ,âorââfireââ blueâ finishâ onâpins,â screws,â springs,â sights,â andâ smallâ blueâpartsânotânormallyâsubjectâ toâaâgreatâdealâofâhandlingâorâwear.âTheâadvantageâofâNitreBlueâBluingâisâmoreârepeatableâfromâpartâtoâpart,âandâ thereâ isâ littleâorânoâdangerâofâ overheatingâ theâpartsâwhichâcanâsoftenâthemâpastâtheâminimumâhardnessâneededâforâthemâtoâdoâtheirâjob.âAnd,âunlikeââhome-brewedâânitreâbluingâbaths,âNitreBlueâBluingâSaltsâareâspecificallyâblendedâforâlowâmeltingâpoint,âstabilityâthrough-outâ theâ entireâ temperatureâ workingâ rangeâ andâ littleâ possibilityâ ofâafter-rust.âAnd,âwhatâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâisââdraggedâoutââofâtheâBluingâTankâonâtheâsurfaceâofâtheâpartsâbeingâbluedâisâeasilyâscrubbedâoffâinâwarm-to-hotâwater.â â NitreBlueâBluingâcanâalsoâbeâusedâtoâcloselyâapproximateâtheâblueâfinishâ usedâ onâ Coltâ andâ Smithâ &â Wessonâ revolversâ ofâ theâ 1850âsâthroughâ theâ 1930âs,â plusâ theâ similarâ finishesâ usedâ byâ otherâ gunâmakersâ ofâ thatâ era.â NitreBlueâ Bluingâ canâ alsoâ beâ usedâ toâ properlyââstrawââcolorâtheâtrigger,âsafetyâandâsafetyâbarâonâLugerâPistolsâduringâres-toration.â â Usedâasâpartâofâtheâoverallâartisticârenderingâofâtheâgun,âNitreBlueâ
Bluingâisâveryâeffective.âDrawingâonâtheâstyleâofââcolorationââofâqual-ityâoldâriflesâandâguns,âsuchâasâtheâMannlicher-Schoenauers,âyouâfindânitreâbluedâandââstrawedââparts.âUsuallyâtheseâareâtemperâcolorsâonâhardenedâ parts.â But,â theâ effectâ ofâ aââsplashââ ofâ colorâ onâ theseâ gunsâisâveryâappealingâandâeffective.âSpringsâareâexcellentâcandidatesâforâcoloring,âasâwellâasâexpressârifleâsightsâandâWin.âM-94âloadingâgates.âAâNitreBlueâbluedâpartâalsoâlooksâgreatânextâtoâcolorâcaseâhardenedâorâFrenchâgrayedâparts.
The NitreBlue Bluing Procedure is very simpleâ.â.â.1â-âCleanâtheâproperlyâpolishedâgunâandâpartsâinâcleaner/degreaser.2â-âDryâallâpartsâthoroughly.3â-ââWithinâaâmaximumâofâ2âhoursâafterâpolishing/cleaning,âimmerseâinâ
moltenâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâuntilâtheâdesiredâcolorâisâachieved.âGenerallyâ5âminutesâforâsmallâparts;â10âminutesâforâlargeâones.
4â-âRemoveâandâquenchâtheâpartsâinâaâtankâofâwater,âorâairâcool.5â-âRinseâandâscrubâpartsâinâwarm-to-hotâwaterâtoâremoveâresidue.6â-âImmerseâinâWaterâDisplacingâOil.
SETTING UP THE BLUING ROOM
â â Considerâtheâlocationâofâyourâbluingâroomâcarefully,âandâbeâsureâtheâlayoutâisâconvenientâandâefficient.âParticularlyâconsiderâkeepingâyourâbluingâroomâseparateâ -â orâ sealedâoffâ fromâ -âyourâgeneralâ shopâarea.âTheâ reasonsâ forâ thisâ are:â youâmustâkeepâpeopleâwhoâareânotâ awareâofâ theâ extremelyâhighâ temperaturesâatâwhichâ theâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâoperatesâcompletelyâoutâofâtheâwayâofâtheâseriousâburnâhazardsâinvolved;âyouâmustâhaveâproperâandâadequateâventilationâforâtheâblu-ingâroom,âandâshouldâbringâinâoutsideâairâandâthenâventâitâfromâtheâroom.âAnd,âfinally,â ifâyouâdoâwantâtoâaddâOxynateâNo.â7â˘âBluingâtoâyourâoperationâ later,âyouâwillânotâhaveâtoâdoâextensiveârelocatingâofâlights,âventâsystemsâandâgasâlinesâtoâsetâitâup.
LIGHTING:â Good,â brightâ lightingâ isâ absolutelyâ essentialâ forâ bestâresultsâ withâ NitreBlueâ Bluing.â Fluorescentâ lightsâ areâ fineâ forâ roomâillumination,â however,â youâ mustâ haveâ oneâ goodâ incandescentâ lightâdirectlyâoverâtheâNitreBlueâBluingâTankâbecauseâyouâdetermineâtheâactualâcolorâyouâwantâaâbluedâpartâtoâbeâbyâobservingâtheâworkâpiece.â
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NitreBlueÂŽ Bluingby the Crew at Brownells
INTRODUCTION
Orders: 800-741-0015 Office: 641-623-5401Fax: 641 623 3896 www.brownells.com
200 SOUTH FRONT STREETMONTEZUMA, IA 50171
WARNINGUSE EXTREME CAUTION - YOU ARE WORKING WITH CHEMICALS HEATED TO 300° F.-900° F. READ AND FOLLOW ALL SAFETY PROCEDURES TO HELP PREVENT INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.
DANGER - SPECIALâCAUTIONâ-âREADâALLâINSTRUCTIONSâANDâUNDERSTANDâFULLYâBEFOREâPROCEEDING!â˘â NEVERâ immerseâ partsâ thatâ haveâ beenâ Cyanide-bathâ hardenedâ intoâ NitreBlueâ Bluingâ Bathâ unlessâ allâ tracesâ ofâ cyanideâ compoundsâ areâremoved.â˘âCONTACTâwithâorganicâmaterialâmayâcauseâaâfire.â˘âCONTACTâwithâacidsâmayâreleaseâtoxicâfumes.â˘âNEVERâallowâwaterâtoâcontactâmoltenâNitreâBlueâBluingâBath;âdangerousâsteamâexplosionsâcanâresult.â˘âNEVERâimmerseâwetâorâdampâpartsâinâmoltenâNitreBlueâBluingâBath;âdangerousâsteamâexplosionsâcanâresult.â˘âNEVERâaddâanyâchemicalâorâadditivesâtoâNitreBlueâBluingâSaltsâorâmoltenâNitreBlueâBluingâBath.
Danger: Oxidizer - Contains Sodium Nitrite, Sodium Nitrate and Potassium Nitrate. Avoid contact with eyes and skin. For eyes: Flush with water for 15 minutes. Consult physician immediately. For skin: Wash with soap and water. Do not take internally. If swallowed: Induce vomit-ing. Consult physician immediately. Use with adequate ventilation. Avoid vapors. If inhaled: Move to fresh air. Rinse mouth and nasal pas-sages with water. Avoid contact with Cyanides, wear face shield, heat resistant gloves and protective apron.
Aâdimlyâlitâworkâareaâwillâmakeâitâextremelyâdifficult,â ifânotâimpos-sible,âtoâgetâtheâfinalâcolorâyouâwant.âTherefore,âyouâmustâhaveâgood,âbrightâlighting.â
TANK SETUP AND WORKING AREA:â Allâ tanksâ usedâ forâ NitreBlueâBluingâshouldâbeâwashedâoutâwithâcleanâshopâsolventâbeforeâtheirâfirstâuse.âMakeâsureâtheâtankâisâcleanâandâdryâbeforeâsettingâitâupâonâtheâheatâsource.âImportantâ-âMakeâsureâtheâworkâareaâisâkeptâcleanâandâfreeâ fromâ anyâ flammableâ items.â Oils,â solventsâ aerosols,â etc.,â shouldâneverâcomeâinâcontactâwithâtheâheatâsourceâorâtheâmoltenâNitreBlueâBluingâBath.
â â Ifâpartsâareânotâtoâbeâquenchedâafterâtheyâreachâtheâdesiredâcolor,âaâheat-proofâ surfaceâmustâbeâprovidedâ toâplaceâ themâonâwhileâ theyâcool.âAâlarge,âshallowâcookieâsheetâorâaâbakingâpanâwithâaâwireâcool-ingârackâonâtopâofâitâisâanâidealâplaceâforâpartsâtoâcool.âIfâtheâpartsâareâtoâbeâquencedâinâwaterâafterâbluing,âaâ21â2âgallonâmetalâbucketâworksâextremelyâwell.â
EQUIPMENT REQUIRED FOR THE BLUING ROOM
TANKS:âForâsmallâpartsâsuchâasâpinsâandâscrews,âaânew,âunusedâbulletâcasterâsâpotâorâdipper-typeâelectricâ castingâ furnaceâ canâbeâused.âForâsprings,âsightsâandâlargerâparts,âweârecommendâBrownellsâBlackâIronâQuarterâTank,â(6"âxâ6"âxâ10"âlong).âThisâtankâisâaâshortenedâversionâofâ Brownellsâ Standardâ Blackâ Ironâ BluingâTank,â andâ givesâ theâ bestâcompromiseâbetweenâheat-upâtimeâandâquantity/sizeâofâworkâthatâcanâbeâNitreBlueâbluedâatâoneâtime.â
HEAT SOURCE:â Aâ heavy-dutyâ electricâ hotâ plate,â smallâ gasâ burner,âorâcampingâstoveâusingâeitherâpropaneâorâliquidâfuelâcanâbeâusedâtoâheatâaâsmallâbulletâcasterâsâpot.â(Note:âAâcampâstoveâmayânotâprovideâenoughâheat;âaâgasâburnerâwillâbeâbest.)âToâheatâtheâQuarterâTankâweârecommendâaâgasâringâorâotherâburnerâsetâupâforâeitherânaturalâgasâorâ liquidâpropaneâ (LPâorâBottleâgas),â capableâofâatâ leastâ15,000âbtuâoutput,âproportionedâtoâfitâunderâtheâ6"âxâ6"âxâ10"âtank.âTheâstandâtoâholdâyourâNitreBlueâbluingâ tankâneedsâ toâbeâbuiltâaroundâ theâheatâsource,âandâideally,âwillâbeâaboutâwaistâhighâ(orâcanâbeâshorterâandâputâonâaâmetalâtopped,âheatâproofâbench.âWeldâ1â4"ârodsâacrossâtheâtopâofâtheâstandâaboutâ2âinchesâapart,âtoâsupportâtheâBluingâTank.âWeâfoundâaâheavy,ârectangularâbarbecueâgrillâandâsomeâbricksâworkâwell,âtoo.â
â â Weâ recommendâ mountingâ theâ heatâ sourceâ onâ aâ steelâ plateâ aboutâ20"â longâ thatâ canâbeâ centeredâunderâ theâNitreBlueâTank,âpullingâ itâoutâforââlighting,âbenchâcleanâupâandâsoâon.âSetâupâyourâheatâsourceâwithâtheâflameâheightâadjustedâsoâthatâtheâhottestâpartâofâtheâflameâjustâtouchesâtheâbottomâofâtheâtank.âYouâmayâfindâthatâaâheatâdiffuserâplateâbetweenâtheâgasâflameâandâtheâbottomâofâtheâBluingâTankâhelpsâgiveâmoreâevenâheatâdistribution.âAâsteelâplateâaboutâ1â4"âtoâ3â8"âthickâandâaboutâ2"âlargerâthanâtheâoverallâdimensionsâofâtheâBluingâTankâisâideal.â(Anâaluminumâheatâdiffuserâofâsimilarâdimensionsâcanâbeâusedâforâ NitreBlueâ Bluing.â But,â aluminumâ MUSTâ NOTâ beâ usedâ around,âorâwith,âeitherâOxynateâNo.â7⢠orâOxynateâ84⢠,âhotâcausticâbluingâsalts.âForâtheâbestâheatâtransfer,âtheâblueâtipâofâtheâflameâshouldâcon-tactâtheâbottomâofâtheâtankâorâdiffuserâplate.
STIRRING TOOL:âAâpieceâofâmildâsteel,âflatâbarâstock,â1â4"âxâ1"âxâ12"âtoâ18"âlong,âgroundâorâfiledâonâoneâendâintoâaâdull,âchiselâshapeâisâidealâtoâstirâtheâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâasâitâisâheatingâup.âAlso,âtheâBluingâBathâshouldâbeâstirredâoccasionallyâduringâuse.âNOTE:âItâisâvitalâthatâtheâBluingâBathâbeâstirredâfrequentlyâandâthoroughlyâduringâheating.âFailureâ toâ stirâ duringâ heatingâ mayâ causeâ moltenâ NitreBlueâ BluingâBathâtoâ"erupt"âfromâtheâBluingâTankâwhenâtheâBluingâSaltsâatâtheâbottomâmeltâwhileâtheâtopâlayerâisâstillâsolid.âStirringâthoroughlyâwillâhelpâpreventâoverheatingâtheâBluingâSaltsâatâtheâbottomâofâtheâtankâandâhelpâcontrolâtheseâpotentiallyâdangerousâeruptions.
THERMOMETER:â Bluingâ thermometersâ designedâ toâ beâ usedâ withâOxynateâ No.â 7⢠andâ otherâ usualâ hotâ bluingâ solutionsâ doâ notâ haveâtheârangeânecessaryâforâNitreBlueâBluing.âWeârecommendâtheâLT-225âLeadâBathâandâHeatâTreatâThermometer,âwhichâhasâaârangeâofâ200°âF.âtoâ1000°âF.âThisâthermometerâmustâbeâmountedâinâtheâcenterâofâtheâlongâsideâofâtheâtank,âwithâtheâendâofâtheâtemperature-sensingâquillâaboutâ1"âfromâtheâbottomâofâtheâtank.â
TWEEZERS:â Heavy-duty,â 12"â longâ tweezersâ areâ recommendedâ forâremovingâpins,âscrews,âetc.,âfromâtheâpartsâbasket.
STAINLESS STEEL DIPPER:â Thisâ isâ theâ idealâ toolâ toâ safelyâ addâNitreBlueâBluingâSaltsâtoâtheâBluingâTank.âItâisâalsoâusedâtoâskimâoffâtheâpinkâfoamâthatârisesâtoâtheâsurfaceâofâtheâBluingâBathâduringâtheâ
initialâmeltingâofânewâNitreBlueâBluingâSalts.STAINLESS STEEL SCREEN WIRE AND BLACK IRON WIRE:â Smallâpartsâcanâbeâsuspendedâorâheldâbyâindividualâwires.âOr,âsmallâpartsâbasketsâ mayâ beâ madeâ ofâ stainlessâ steelâ screenâ wireâ toâ holdâ theseâsmallâparts,âplusâpinsâandâscrews.âLargerâpartsâshouldâbeâsuspendedâbyâpiecesâofâblackâironâwire.âAlso,âuseâblackâironâwireâtoâmakeâhandlesâforâtheâsmallâpartsâbaskets.
QUENCH TANK:âAâ tankâ orâ bucketâ largeâ enoughâ toâ holdâ theâ largestâpartâbeingâblued,âwithâatâleastâaâ21â2âgallonâcapacity,âisârequiredâforâaâwaterâquenchâafterâtheâpartsâhaveâachievedâtheâdesiredâcolor.âSetâtheâQuenchâTankâseveralâfeetâawayâfromâtheâNitreBlueâBluingâTankâ-âandâwellâbelowâitâ-âsoâanyâwaterâwhichâmightâbeâsplashedâfromâtheâQuenchâTankâwillânotâfallâintoâtheâBluingâTank.â
WORK LIGHT:âAâ flexibleâ armâbenchâ light,â suchâ asâ theâLuxoâLS-1A,âthatâwillâsafelyâacceptâaâ100âwattâbulb,âshouldâbeâpositionedâbyâtheâNitreBlueâBluingâTankâandâadjustedâtoâprovideâlightingâintoâtheâtankâsoâyouâcanâobserveâ theâpartsâbeingâbluedâandâcarefullyâobserveâ theâexactâchangesâinâcolorâtheâpartsâtakeâon.
ACID ETCH TANK:âInâtheâeventâthatâyouâdecideâtoââpickleââtheâpartsâtoâobtainâaââsatinââfinishâbeforeâyouâblueâit,âyouâmustâuseâaâPyrex,âGel-âcoatedâFiberglassâorâpolypropyleneâtank.âAâsimilarâtankâcanâbeâusedâforâtheâRustâRemover.
CHEMICALS USED IN NitreBlue BLUING
â â Theâ chemicalsâ listedâ areâ inâ twoâ categories:â thoseâ youâ mustâ haveâandâthoseâthatâareâoptional,âbutâareâextremelyâhelpfulâandâusefulâinâtheâNitreBlueâBluingâprocess.âTheyâareâlistedâalphabeticallyâforâyourâconvenience.
CHEMICALS YOU MUST HAVE
dâSOLVE⢠GUNSMITH CLEANERâ-âAâfast,âefficient,âtank-typeââsoakââcleanerâformulatedâforâremovingâallâgrease,âdirtâandâcrudâfromâgunsâpriorâ toâ bluing.â Itâ isâ non-hazardous,â non-flammable,â biodegradable,âodor-freeâandâsafeâforâsewer-systemâdisposal.
â â Mixing:âShippedâasâconcentrate;â1âgallonâofâdâSolve⢠makesâ5âgallonsâofânormalâstrengthâbenchâcleaner.âForâHeavyâ Dirtâ andâ Grease:â useâ fullâ strength,â orâ diluteâ 1âpartâdâSolve⢠toâ 1âpartâ cleanâwaterâ (1â toâ 1â ratio).âForâlightâDirtâandâGrease:âdiluteâ1âpartâdâSolve⢠toâ4âpartsâcleanâ waterâ (aâ 1-to-4â ratio).â Otherâ ratiosâ canâ beâ used.âImmerseâ partsâ onlyâ untilâ theyâ areâ completelyâ clean;ânormallyâlessâthanâ5âminutes.âInspectâcarefully.âReplaceâdâSolveâ˘â Cleaningâ Solutionâ whenâ itâ isâ dirtyâ orâ stopsâworking.
NitreBlue BLUING SALTSâ -Theseâ customâ formulatedâ Bluingâ Saltsâareâ theâbasisâ forâ aâ remarkablyâ easyânitreâbluingâ systemâ thatâ givesâaâ tough,â deep,â rich,â lustrousâ blueâ toâ gunâ parts.â Reliable,â consistentâresults,âgivingâbeautifulâcolorsâtoâmatchâanyârestorationâor,âtoâcreateâyourâownââpeacockââorââfireââbluesâ-âplusâallâtheâshadesâofâyellowâ-âonâpartsâyouâareâbluing.â â NitreBlueâBluingâSaltsâhaveâaâspecificâgravityâofâ2.14,âareânonvola-tile,âhaveâaâpHâofâ7.5,ânoâodor,âandâareâcompletelyâsolubleâ inâwater.âTheyâhaveânoâflashâpoint,âandâconstituteânoâhealthâorâfireâhazard,âandâareâclassifiedâasâanâOxidizer,âwithâaâreactivityâlevelâofâ2âonâaâscaleâofâ5.âThereâareânoâexposerâlimits,âalthoughâdoâavoidâbreathingâtheâdustâwhichâmayâbeâaâmildâirritantâtoânoseâandâthroat.âWhenâtheâNitreBlueâBluingâSaltsâareâmolten,âforcedâairâventilationâshouldâbeâusedâinâtheâBluingâRoom.âOfâcourse,âavoidâcontactâwithâeyes.âBeâsureâtoâreadâ-âandâsaveâ-âtheâwarningâonâtheâcontainerâofâNitreBlueâBluingâSalts,âwhichâweâhaveâalsoâincludedâinâtheseâinstructionsâonâPageâ1âinâtheââWarningââBox.â(TechnicalâInformationâOnâMixingâAndâUsing,âpageâ4.)NitreBlue NEUTRALIZING SYSTEMâ -â Dueâ toâ aâ numberâ ofâ factors,âmanyâ municipalâ andâ localâ governmentsâ haveâ placedâ restrictionsâwithinâ theirâ jurisdictionsâ onâ theâ disposalâ ofâ potentiallyâ hazardousâwasteâ materials,â whichâ includeâ NitreBlueâ Bluingâ Saltsâ andâ BluingâBath.âWithâ thisâ Neutralizingâ System,â inâ theâ majorityâ ofâ cases,â theâdisposalâofâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâcanâbeâhandledâinâyourâownâshopâtoâcomplyâwithâallâenvironmentalâregulations,âmakingâtheâresultingâproductâsafeâforâsewerâdisposal.â(CompleteâTechnicalâInstructionsâonâNeutralizingâNitreBlueâBluingâBaths,âpageâ8.)
WATER DISPLACING OIL -âSpeciallyâformulatedâsoâtheâmoleculesâofâoilâactuallyâdisplaceâtheâmoleculesâofâwaterâstillâonâtheâsurfaceâofâtheâgunâorâpartâafterâ itâ comesâoutâofâ theâWarmâWaterâRinse.âGivesâ theâgunâ aâ completelyâ protectedâ surface.âWaterâ Displacingâ Oilâ isâ alsoâ aâ
Page 2 of �2 Š 2002 BROWNELLS, INC. 076-200-362 R502
superârustâpreventive,âneutralizingâfingerprintsâplusâbodyâacidsâandâoilsâ thatâgetâonâ theâgunâ fromâhandlingâandâshootingâafterâ itâ leavesâyourâshop.â(DetailedâTechnicalâInformationâOnâSettingâUpâandâUsing,âpageâ5.)
CHEMICALS YOU MIGHT WANT TO USE
RUST REMOVERâ -âFormulatedâtoâcleanâoffâbadlyârustedâpartsâpriorâtoâ initialâpolishing.âForâ removingâoldâbluingâ fromâguns,â orâ cleaningâupâoldâgunsâtooâfragileâorâtimeâconsumingâtoâpolish.âOr,âcleaningâoutâtheârustâpitsâonâgunsâsoâbadlyârustedâyouâwouldâremoveâfarâtooâmuchâmetalâtryingâtoâpolishâthemâout.âWhenâusedâproperly,âitâwillânotâattackâanythingâbutârustedâsteel,ânotâtheâliveâsteelâitself.âRemovesârust,âoldâblue,âscaleâandâcrud,âleavingânothingâbutâtheâbrightâsteel.â
â â Mixing:â Shippedâ asâ concentrate.â Forâ Heavyâ Rust,âdiluteâ1-to-1âwithâcleanâwaterâ(aâ50%âsolution).âForâLightâRust,â diluteâ 1-to-3â withâ cleanâ waterâ (aâ 25%â solution).âImmerseâpartsâonlyâuntilârustâisâgone.âModerateâheatingâspeedsâ rustâ removal.âDoânotâ exceedâ150°â F.,â asâ compo-nentsâofâRustâRemoverâevaporateâoutâofâsolutionâaboveâthisâ temperature.âDoânotâ leaveâpartsâ inâRustâRemoverâforâlongâperiodsâofâtime.â
NitreBlue BLUING ROOM SHOPPING LIST
â â ManyâdifferentâsetupsâwillâworkâwhenâputtingâtogetherâyourâNitreBlueâBluingâSystem.âHowever,âtheâfollowingâequipmentâandâchemicalsâareârecommendedâasâtheâminimumârequirements.
HARDWARE
1.âBlackâIronâQuarterâTankâ-â1â-âforâNitreBlueâBluingâBath. 2.âCleanâ21â2âGallonâMetalâBucketâ-â1â-âForâQuenchâTank. 3.ââFiberglassâTankâ-â2â-âforâwarmâwaterâafterârinse,âandâforâWaterâ
DisplacingâOil. 4.âCleaningâTankâ-â1â-âappropriateâsizeâtoâuseâwithâdâSolve. 5.ââLT-225â Leadâ Bathâ andâ Heatâ Treatâ Thermometerâ -â 1-â forâ
NitreBlueâBluingâBath. 6.ââBlackâ IronâWireâ -â 1â rollâ -â toâ suspendâ partsâ andâ smallâ partsâ
basket. 7.ââStainlessâ Steelâ Screenâ wireâ -â 1â pieceâ -â toâ makeâ smallâ partsâ
basket. 8.ââStainlessâ Steelâ Dipperâ -â 1â -â forâ addingâ NitreBlueâ Saltsâ toâ
QuarterâTank. 9.âRinseâTankâBrushâ-â1â-âtoâscrubâpartsâinâRinseâTank.10.ââSteelâWool,â#0âorâ#00â-â1âpackageâ-âtoârubâairâbubblesâoffâpartsâ
whenâfirstâimmersedâinâtheâBluingâBath.
CHEMICALS1.ââNitreBlueâBluingâSaltsâ-â1âpailâ-âtoâchargeâtheâBluingâTankâini-
tially,âandâtoâreplenishâSaltsâlostâfromâdrag-out.2.âdâSolve⢠âGunsmithâCleanerâ-â1âgallon.3.âTCEâCleanerâDegreaserâ-â1âquartâminimum4.ââWaterâDisplacingâOilâ-â1âgallonâminimumâ-âtoâcreateâaâdip-soakâ
bathâatâleastâ3"âdeepâinâWaterâDisplacingâOilâTank.5.âNitreBlueâBluingâBathâNeutralizingâSystemâ-â1.
SAFETY EQUIPMENTâ â Minimumâequipmentârequiredâtoâhelpâprotectâyouâconsistsâof:
1.ââHeatâresistantâgloves,âe.g.âTempâTecâGlovesâorâleatherâweldersââgloves.
2.âFull-faceâsafetyâshield.3.ââClean,âheavy-duty,â cottonâorâcanvasâshopâapronâ (notâsyntheticâ
blends).4.ââLongâsleevedâ100%âwoolâorâcottonâshirtâandâpantsâ(notâsynthe-
ticâblends).5.âHigh-toppedâleatherâworkâshoesâorâboots.
OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT1.ââRustâRemoverâ-â1âquartâminimumâ-âtoâcleanâupâmostâseriouslyâ
rustedâpartsâsafely.2.âHydrochloricâAcidâ -â 1âgallonâ -â toââpickleââpartsâ forââsatinââ fin-ish.3.âFiberglassâTankâ-â1â-âforâAcidâEtchâtankâorâRustâRemover.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION ON POLISHING
AND PARTS PREPARATIONâ â Becauseâ polishingâ andâ cleaningâ ofâ theâ partsâ thatâ areâ goingâ toâ beâNitreBlueâbluedâplaysâsuchâaâcriticalâpartâinâtheâwayâtheâfinishedâpartâisâgoingâtoâ look,âweâhaveâ firstâdescribedâsomeâofâ theâ finishesâbeforeâcoveringâtheâgeneralâstepsâofâpolishingâandâcleaning.
Finish and Color Options: Forâ restorationâ work,â lookâ closelyâ atâtheâpolishâandâlusterâofâtheâfinishâofâtheâoriginalâgunâbeforeâdecidingâwhichâwayâtoâpolishâandâprepareâtheâparts.âScrewsâwereâeitherâpol-ishedâlengthwiseâwithâtheâslot,âorâspin-polished.âMostâofâtheâoriginalâscrewsâwereâpolishedâlengthwise,âandâdependingâonâtheâbrillianceâofâtheâpolishâjob,âtheyâeitherâstoodâoutâorâblendedâinâwithâtheâlookâofâtheâgunâsâoriginalâfinish.â â Forâ theâ bestâ âbrightâ peacockââ blue,â theâ metalâ mustâ beâ givenâ aâsuperbrightâ mirrorâ polishâ withoutâ anyâ flawsâ ofâ anyâ kind.âAllâ partsâonâwhichâtheâbrightestâblueâisâdesiredâmustâbeâmirrorâpolishedâandâentirelyâfreeâofâoils.â â Aââsatinâânitreâblueâfinishâcanâbeâaccomplishedâbyâaâwideâvarietyâofâmethodsâ-âfromâacidâpicklingâtoâusingâbrushingâwheelsâofâvariousâwireâsizesâandâdensities.âOiledâafterâassembly,âthisâfinishâblendsâinâwithâaâqualityârustâblue.ââ â Aâ variationâ onâ theâ âmatteâ surfaceââ effectâ canâ easilyâ beâ achievedâbyâ leavingâaâveryâ lightâcoatingâofâoilâonâtheâmetalâbeforeâNitreBlueâBluing.âTheâheatâofâtheâBluingâBathâwillâburnâoffâtheâsurfaceâoilâandâleaveâaâpleasingââmatteââlookâtoâtheâmetalâsurfaceâinâtheâprocess!â â âStrawââandâvariousâshadesâofâyellowâcanâbeâachievedâbyâstabilizingâtheâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâatâaâlowerâtemperatureâbeforeâputtingâtheâpieceâintoâit.âIfâyouâdonâtâstabilizeâatâtheâlowerâtemperatureâfirst,âyouâwillâgoârightâpastâtheâyellowâcolorâyouâwantâinâaâheartbeat!ââStrawââyellowâisâparticularlyâdesirableâforâtriggers,âsprings,âMauserâboltâstopâsprings,âetc.â â Polishingâmarksâ(grainâlines)âleftâinâtheâsurfaceâofâtheâsteelâwillâgiveâdifferentâvisualâeffectsâ toâ theâ finishedâNitreBlueâbluedâsurface,âandâoften,âevenâdifferentâshadesâofâblueâorâyellow.
â â Polishing: Generally,â polishâ andâ prepareâ theâ steelâ exactlyâ asâ youâwouldâ forâ Oxynateâ No.â 7⢠bluing.â (NOTE:â Ifâ youâ areâ notâ familiarâwithâthisâprocess,âpleaseârequestâaâfreeâcopyâofâtheâBluing Instructions & Supplies for Oxynate No. 7⢠Hot Bluingâ fromâusâwhichâcontainsâdetailedâinstructionsâonâpolishingâandâsurfaceâpreparation.)â â Manyâofâtheâscrewsâinâolderâgunsâwhichâwereânitreâbluedâwereânotâbrilliantlyâ polished,â soâ theâ bright,â fireâ blueâ thatâ weâ areâ ableâ toâ getânowâwithâNitreBlueâBluingâisânotâseen.âIfâyouâwantâaâscrewâtoâstandâout,âspin-polishâwithâaâ240âorâ320âgritâpolish,âthenâproperlyâandâcom-pletelyâ degrease.âThisâ willâ giveâ aâ beautifulâ âsapphireââ effectâ onâ theâscrewâhead.â â Whenâpartsâareâtooâbadlyârustedâorâtooâfragileâtoâstandâtheâamountâofâpolishingânecessaryâ toâ cleanâoffâallâ theâ rustâandâcrud,âweârecom-mendâyouâuseâBrownellsâRustâRemoverâtoâcleanâdownâtoâtheâbrightâsteelâ beforeâ finalâ preparationâ ofâ theâ surfaceâ forâ NitreBlueâ Bluing.â(Mixingâ andâ usingâ instructionsâ areâ givenâ underâ RUSTâ REMOVER,âpageâ3.)
â â Cleaning: Becauseâ NitreBlueâ Bluingâ isâ aâ controlledâ heatâ process,âtheâhighâtemperaturesâinvolvedâessentiallyââself-cleanââtheâsteelâbeingâblued.âForâ thisâreason,â itâ isânecessaryâonlyâ toâcleanâtheâpartsâbeingâcoloredâenoughâtoâremoveâtheâmajorityâofâdirt,âoils,âandâotherâcontami-nantsâtoâkeepâthemâoutâofâtheâBluingâBath.â â WeârecommendâthatâpartsâbeâcleanedâinâBrownellsâdâSolveâGunsmithâCleaner,âshopâsolventâorâTCEâCleanerâDegreaserâtoâremoveâallâdirt,âoils,â lubricants,â powderâ residuesâ andâ polishingâ compoundâ residuesâfromâallâtheâexteriorâandâinteriorâpartsâtoâbeâNitreBlueâblued.âEvenâtheâsuperâbrightâpartsâwillâbeâcleanâenoughâwithâtheseâcleanersâtoâgetâtheâlookâyouâwantâwithoutâtheânecessityâofâgoingâtoâtheâsuper-cleaningâpowersâofâDicro-Cleanâ909.â â Ifâaâwater-basedâsolvent,âlikeâBrownellsâdâSolve,âisâusedâtoâcleanâtheâparts,âallâtracesâofâtheâsolventâandârinseâwaterâMUST BE REMOVED fromâtheâparts.âAll parts MUST BE COMPLETELY DRY before being placed in the NitreBlue Bluing Bath.âAnyâ traceâ ofâ moistureâ leftâ onâtheâpartsâandânotâremovedâpriorâtoâimmersionâintoâtheâheatedâBluingâbath,âcanâcauseâaâpotentiallyâdangerous,âviolent,âsteamâeruption.
Oxidization: isâ theâ baneâ ofâ allâ nitreâ bluing.â Itâ isâ theâ microscopicârustingâ (oxidizing)â ofâ theâ surfaceâ ofâ theâ metalâ whichâ beginsâ imme-diatelyâafterâ itâ isâpolishedâandâcleaned.âThisâcanâbeâaârealâproblem,âbecauseâ NitreBlueâ Bluingâ doesâ notâ colorâ wellâ overâ oxidation,â andâfrequentlyâgivesâblotching,âpatchyâspotsâandâanâoverallâdull,â lifelessâcolor,âevenâonâpartsâwhereâyouâdonâtâwantâaââdullââlook.âDoânotâdelayâNitreBlueâ Bluingâ partsâ onceâ theyâ haveâ beenâ polishedâ andâ cleaned.âYouâshouldâblueâtheâpartsâwithinâaâmaximumâofâ2âhoursâafterâpolish-ingâandâcleaning.âEvenâifâyouâoilâtheâparts,âbutâletâthemâstandâover-
076-200-362 R502 Š 2002 BROWNELLS, INC. Page 3 of �2
BLUING STEELWITH NitreBlue BLUING SALTS
night,âtheyâmayânotâNitreBlueâBlueâwell.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION ON MIXING &USING NitreBlue BLUING BATH
â â 1)âDETERMINE THE TANK SIZE youâwishâtoâuseâandâtheâvolumeâofâNitreBlueâSaltsâyouâwishâtoâputâintoâit.âYouâcanâcalculateâtheâvolumeâcapacityâ ofâ aâ tankâ byâ multiplyingâ theâ insideâ lengthâ xâ insideâ widthâxâdesiredâdepthâandâdivideâtheâanswerâbyâ231â(theânumberâofâcubicâinchesâinâaâgallon).âThisâanswerâisâtheâcapacityâofâtheâtankâinâgallons.âAsâaâruleâofâthumb,âtheâBrownellsâBlackâIronâorâStainlessâSteelâtank,âmeasuringâ6"âxâ6"âxâ40",âholdsâ6.2âgallonsâwhenâcompletelyâfull.âTheâBrownellsâQuarterâTank,âmeasuringâ6"âxâ6"âxâ10",âholdsâ1.5âgallonsâwhenâcompletelyâfull.âNitreBlueâBluingâBathâinâtheâmoltenâformâcon-tainsâapproximatelyâ17â lbs.â ofâNitreBlueâBluingâSaltsâperâ gallonâ ofâvolume.âTherefore,âtoâhaveâaâmoltenâBluingâBathâdepthâinâaâQuarterâTankâofâ4",âyouâwouldâuseâapproximatelyâ17âlbs.âofâNitreBlueâBluingâSalts.
â â 2) BATH DEPTHâdependsâprimarilyâonâtheâsizeâofâtheâpartsâthatâyouâareâgoingâtoâcolor.âNormally,âthreeâtoâfourâinchesâofâmoltenâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâinâaâQuarterâTankâwillâbeâdeepâenoughâtoâblueâorâHeatâTreatâmostâsmallâparts,âie:âtriggers,âsprings,âscrews.âHowever,âifâyouâareâplanningâtoâNitreBlueâlargerâparts,âchooseâtheâsizeâofâyourâtankâtoâ provideâ aâ minimumâ ofâ 1"â toâ 2"â ofâ moltenâ Bluingâ Bathâ onâ allâ 4âsidesâ(above,âbelow,âleftâandâright)âofâtheâsuspendedâpart.âWhenâtheâNitreBlueâ Bluingâ Bathâ isâ beingâ usedâ forâ heatâ treatingâ smallâ parts,âfollowâtheâsameâsizingâandâsolutionâdepthâguideâ linesâasâyouâdoâ forâsizingâaâBluingâTank.
â â 3) INITIAL SETUP OF THE BLUING TANK isâextremelyâsimple;âfol-lowingâareâconsiderationsâyouâmustâkeepâinâmind.â â NitreBlueâBluingâBluingâSaltsâareâusedâfullâstrengthâasâtheyâcomeâfromâtheâshippingâcontainer.âYouâDoâNotâdiluteâthemâinâanyâwayâwithâanything.âInâfact,âyouâmustâbeâextremelyâcarefulâthatânoâwaterâcomesâinâcontactâwithâeitherâtheâdryâNitreBlueâBluingâSalts,âtheâtankâtheyâareâgoingâtoâbeâputâinto,âorâtheâmoltenâBluingâBath.â â NitreBlueâ Bluingâ Saltsâ areâ inâ aâ somewhatââfluffyââ granularâ formâasâmanufactured.âTheyâareâmadeâthisâwayâtoâcutâdownâonâdust,âandâtoâmakeâthemâeasyâtoâpourâandâmeasure.âHowever,â theâvolumeâofâ1âpoundâinâtheâgranularâformâisânearlyâ11â2âtimesâasâgreatâasâitâisâinâtheâmoltenâstate.âTherefore,âwhenâyouâareâaddingâtheâgranularâNitreBlueâBluingâSaltsâtoâyourâtankâonâinitialâsetup,âyouâcannotâaddâtheâentireâamountâyouâwishâtoâuseâallâatâoneâtime.âYouâmustâputâinâaboutâhalfâofâtheâintendedâamount,âandâbringâitâtoâtheâmoltenâstate.âThenâaddâmoreâNitreBlueâBluingâSalts,âoneâdipperâ fullâatâaâtimeâ -âwaitingâ forâeachâdipperâ fullâ toâ meltâ downâ beforeâ addingâ anotherâ -â untilâ theâ desiredâlevelâ inâ theâ tankâ isâ reached.â Ifâ youâ tryâ toâ addâ allâ theâ Bluingâ Saltsâinitially,âyouâwillâbadlyâoverflowâyourâBluingâTank.â â NitreBlueâ Bluingâ Saltsâ areâ pureâ whiteâ whenâ theyâ areâ manufac-tured,â butâ aâ solubleâ pinkâ dyeâ isâ addedâ toâ theâ whiteâ grainsâ ofâ theâSaltsâ toâ preventâ misidentificationâ ofâ theâ productâ duringâ packaging.âWhenâ youâ openâ theâ pailâ ofâ NitreBlueâ Bluingâ Salts,â youâ willâ findâ aâdry,âpinkâgranularâproduct.âAsâtheâNitreBlueâBluingâSaltsâmeltâinâtheânewâBluingâBath,âanâopaqueâpinkâfoamârisesâtoâtheâtopâofâtheâmoltenâ
Bluingâ Bath.â Inâ orderâ toâ seeâ theâ colorâ changesâ thatâ takeâ placeâ onâtheâsteelâinâtheâNitreBlueâBluingâBath,âthisâfoamâmustâbeâskimmedâfromâtheâsurfaceâandâdiscarded.âAnytimeâmoreâSaltsâareâaddedâtoâtheâbathâtoâreplaceââdrag-outâ,âtheâpinkâfoamâwillâreappearâandâmustâbeâskimmedâoffâandâdiscarded.â(SeeâcompleteâTechnicalâInstructionsâonâNeutralizingâNitreBlueâBluingâBaths,âpageâ7,âforâproperâdisposal).
â â 4) AMOUNT OF BLUING SALTS REQUIREDâ isâ totallyâ dependentâonâtheâtankâsizeâyouâhaveâchosenâandâtheâsizeâofâtheâpartsâyouâwishâtoâNitreBlue.
â â 5)âTEMPERATURE CONTROL OF THE NitreBlue BLUING BATH -Theâ workingâ temperatureâ rangeâ ofâ NitreBlueâ Bluingâ Bathâ isâ fromâ300°âF.âtoâ900°âF.âAlthoughâtheâBluingâBathâisâmoltenâatâaboutâ275°âF.,âcolorâchangesâinâtheâsteelâwillânotâtakeâplaceâuntilâtheâBluingâBathâreachesâapproximatelyâ450°âF.âForâbestâresults,âtheâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâshouldâusuallyâoperateâatâ600°âF.âtoâ650°âF.âwhenâblueâcolorâisâwantedâonâtheâparts.âBelowâ600°âF.,âtheâpartsâmayâneverâcompletelyâchangeâcolorâtoâblue.âAtâhigherâtemperatures,âtheâcolorâchangeâisâsoârapidâyouâwillâhaveâdifficultyâbluingâirregularâparts,âsuchâasâtriggers,âhammers,âetc.âRemember,âbathâtemperatureâisâaâmajorâcontributorâtoâtheâcolorâtheâpartâwillâturn,âandâyouâwillâneedâtoâoperateâtheâBluingâBathâ belowâ 600°â F.â toâ getâ theâ yellows.â CAUTION: Doâ notâ allowâ theâbathâtoâheatâhigherâthanâ900°âF,âbecauseâtheâNitreBlueâBluingâSaltsâwillâbreakâdownâchemically.â âRegulateâtheâtemperatureâofâtheâBluingâTankâbyâturningâtheâheatâupâ orâ downâ asâ required,â soâ theâ actualâ temperatureâ isâ justâ slightlyâaboveâ theâ oneâ neededâ forâ theâ colorâ youâ wish.â Neverâ relyâ onâ yourâthermometerâ toâ determineâ theâ colorâ ofâ theâ workâ pieceâ becauseâ theâmanyâdifferentâalloysâofâ steelâwillâ changeâ colorâatâ slightlyâdifferentâtemperatures.ââSeeâtheâdetailedââChartâofâTemperaturesâasâIndicatedâbyâtheâColorâofâPlainâCarbonâSteelâ,âpageâ7,âforâapproximateâcolorâchangesâinâcar-bonâsteelâatâvariousâtemperatures.âNOTE:âOtherâalloysâofâsteelâwillâchangeâcolorâatâtemperaturesâslightlyâaboveâorâbelowâthoseâlistedâonâtheâchart.
6) STIRRING THE BLUING BATH - TheâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâmustâbeâstirredâtoâbreakâitâupâatâtheâbeginningâofâeachâbluingâsession,âandâitâmustâbeâstirredâoccasionallyâduringâtheâbluingâcycle.âBecauseâtheâheatâisâappliedâtoâtheâbottomâofâtheâBluingâTank,âtheâBluingâBathâwillânaturallyâ stratifyâ intoâheatâ layersâ thatâareâseveralâdegreesâwarmerâatâtheâbottom,â justâaboveâtheâheatâsource,â thanâtheyâareâatâtheâtop.âBecauseâ theâ colorâ ofâ theâNitreBlueâbluedâpartâ isâgreatlyâdependentâuponâtheâtemperatureâofâtheâBluingâBath,âyouâmustâoccasionallyâstirâtheâBluingâBathâtoâbeâsureâtheâtemperatureâisâconstantâandâuniformâthroughoutâtheâentireâBluingâTank.
7) ADDING NitreBlue BLUING SALTS TO THE BLUING BATH -âWhenâtheâBluingâBathâ levelâ inâtheâBluingâTankâhasâdroppedâbelowâtheâminimumâdepthârequired,âorâwhenâyouâareâgoingâtoâbeâbluingâaâlargerâpieceâandâneedâmoreâdepth,âadditionalâNitreBlueâBluingâSaltsâwillâneedâtoâbeâaddedâtoâtheâBluingâTank.âThisâshouldâbeâdoneâbetweenâjobsâwhenâthereâareânoâpartsâinâtheâBluingâTank,âorâatâtheâbeginningâofâtheâsessionâwhenâtheâBluingâBathâisâbeingâbroughtâupâtoâoperatingâtemperature.âAddingâNitreBlueâBluingâSaltsâatâeitherâofâtheseâtimesâallowsâallâtheâpinkâfoamâthatâisâgoingâtoâbeâreleasedâbyâtheânewâBluingâSaltsâtoâbeâskimmedâoffâandâdisposedâofâwithoutâinterferingâwithâyourâvisualâcheckingâofâtheâpartsâinâanâoperatingâBluingâTank.â â MostâofâtheâBluingâBathâlostâisâtheâresultâofââdragâoutââwhenâgunsâandâpartsâareâremovedâfromâtheâBluingâBath.âTheâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâ doesâ notââboilâ awayââ orâ evaporateâ orâ getââusedâ upââ orââdeleteââorâotherwiseââself-destructââ inâanyâway.âYouâmayâneverâhaveâ toâaddâmoreâ thanâ theâ smallâamountâofâNitreBlueâBluingâSaltsâ requiredâ toâmakeâupâforâtheââdragâoutâ.âHowever,âyouâcanâcontaminateâtheâBluingâBathâ withâ excessiveâ amountsâ ofâ dirtâ andâ crudâ thatâ shouldâ haveâbeenâremovedâduringâtheâcleaningâcycle.âGenerally,âthisââdirtââcanâbeâskimmedâfromâtheâsurfaceâofâtheâmoltenâBluingâBath,âandâdisposedâof.âIfâtheâcontaminationâisâtooâsevere,âtheâBluingâBathâwillâsimplyâhaveâtoâbeâreplaced,âandâtheâcontaminatedâBluingâBathâdisposedâofâproperly.
8) COVERING BLUING TANK WHEN NOT IN USE isâ extremelyâimportantâ forâ severalâ reasons.â NitreBlueâ Bluingâ Saltsâ areâ hygro-scopicâ(meansâtheyâabsorbâwaterâeasily).âInâhumidâareas,âtheâBluingâBathâinâanâuncovered,âcoldâBluingâTankâwillâdrawâmoistureâfromâtheâatmosphere.âWhenâyouâreheatâtheâBluingâTank,âyouâwillâhaveâtoâfirstâpourâoffâwhatâwaterâyouâcan,âblotâupâtheârestâwithâpaperâtowelsâandâfinally,âyouâwillâhaveâtoâboilâoffâanyâremainingâwater,âwhichâcanâtakeâaâlongâtime.â â Also,âkeepingâtheâBluingâTankâcoveredâkeepsâgeneralâjunkâandâstuffâfromâ fallingâ intoâ theâ tank,â andâ preventsâ theâ possibilityâ ofâ someoneâ
Page � of �2 Š 2002 BROWNELLS, INC. 076-200-362 R502
TO START-UP A NitreBlue BLUING BATH
1) âFillâ theâ tankâorâpotâ toâ theâdepthâatâwhichâyouâwishâtheâ finalâNitreBlueâBluingâwithânewâNitreBlueâBluingâSalts.
2)âTurnâonâtheâheatâsource.3)ââWhenâtheâNitreBlueâBluingâSaltsâreachâapproximatelyâ275°âF.,â
theyâwillâstartâtoâmelt.âAsâtheyâmelt,âtheâlevelâinâtheâtankâofâtheânewâBluingâSaltsâwillâdecreaseâapproximatelyâ25%.
4)ââAddâmoreâNitreâBlueâBluingâSalts,â oneâdipperâ fullâ atâ aâ time,âwaitingâforâeachâdipperâfullâtoâmeltâdownâbeforeâaddingâanotherâuntilâtheâdesiredâBluingâBathâdepthâisâreachedâinâyourâtank.
5)ââAâpinkâfoamâwillâriseâtoâtheâsurfaceâofâtheânewâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâasâ theâSaltsâmelt.âSkimâ theâ foamâ fromâ theâ surfaceâandâdiscard.â (SeeâcompleteâTechnicalâInstructionsâonâNeutralizingâNitreBlueâBluingâBaths,âpageâ7,âforâproperâdisposal.)
6)ââOnceâ theâ NitreBlueâ Bluingâ Saltsâ areâ completelyâ molten,â andâtheâpinkâfoamâisâskimmedâoff,âtheâBluingâBathâisâaâtranslucent,âmilky-yellowâcolor.
7)ââContinueâheatingâtheâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâuntilâtheâdesiredâoperatingâtemperatureâisâreached.âForâbestâresults,âtheâBluingâBathâ shouldâ operateâ atâ 600°â F.â toâ 650°â F.â (Seeâ Temperature Control below,â andâ theâ detailedâ âChartâ ofâ Temperaturesâ asâIndicatedâbyâtheâColorâofâPlainâCarbonâSteelâ,âpageâ7.)
accidentallyâgettingâintoâtheâNitreBlueâBluingâchemicals.â â Onceâ theâ Bluingâ Bathâ hasâ cooledâ toâ roomâ temperature,â aâ good,âpracticalâcoverâcanâeasilyâbeâmadeâbyâspreadingâaâcoupleâofâlayersâofâheavyâ6-milâbuildersââplasticâofâ 3â4"âplywoodâoverâtheâ fiberboardâandâweightâtheâwholeâworksâdownâwithâaâcementâblockâorâtwoâtoâhelpâgetâasâtightâaâsealâasâisâpossibleâonâtheâtopâedgeâofâtheâBluingâTank.âTheâtighterâ theâ seal,â theâ betterâ theâ chanceâ ofâ controllingâ theâ unwantedâwaterâabsorption.âStoreâtheâsealedâBluingâTankâinâaâcool,âdryâplace.âDoânotâsetâtheâBluingâTankâdirectlyâonâaâconcreteâfloor.
9) STORING THE BLUING BATH -â Itâsâ farâeasierâ justâ toâ leaveâ theâBluingâBathâinâtheâBluingâTank.âTurnâoffâtheâheatâsourceâunderâtheâBluingâTankâandâbeâsureâtoâremoveâtheâthermometer,âpartsâbasketsâandâ hangingâ wiresâ fromâ theâ Bluingâ Tank.â Ifâ youâ forgetâ toâ removeâeverythingâfromâtheâBluingâTank,âwhateverâisâleftâinâitâwillâbeâlockedâinâplaceâasâtheâBluingâBathâcoolsâandâsolidifies.âYouâwillânotâbeâableâtoââgetâitâoutâuntilâtheânextâtimeâtheâBluingâTankâisâheated.âTheâsolidifiedâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâwonâtâfallâoutâofâtheâBluingâTankâevenâifâitâisâtippedâover.â(Inâfact,âweâwereânotâevenâableâtoâknockâtheâblockâofâsolidi-fiedâ Bluingâ Bathâ outâ ofâ theâ BluingâTank!)â Onceâ cooled,â theâ BluingâBathâwillâhaveâaâmottledâwhiteâappearanceâandâmayâhaveâentrappedâcontaminantsâsuchâasâmetalâparticlesâorâdirtâshowingâonâtheâsurface.âTheâBluingâTankâmustâalwaysâbeâcoveredâafterâitâhasâcooledâdownâtoâroomâtemperature.âSeeâ#8âabove.
10) STORING NEW, UNUSED NitreBlue BLUING SALTS -â Ifâ theâstorageâcontainerâisâcompletelyâandâtotallyâairtight,âNitreBlueâBluingâSaltsâcanâbeâstoredâindefinitely.âBut,âtheâcontainerâmustâbeâabsolutelyâairtightâorâ theyâwillâabsorbâ largeâamountsâofâwaterâ fromâtheâatmo-sphereâandâmayâpartiallyâsolidify.âStoreâinâanâareaâthatâhasâaâconstantâtemperatureâ fromâ summerâ toâ winterâ andâ doâ notâ setâ theâ containerâdirectlyâonâaâconcreteâfloor.âYouâwantâtoâavoidâcoolingâandâheatingâofâtheâsealedâcontainerâwhichâcouldâbreakâtheâseal.âIfâtheâsealâisâbroken,âairâandâmoistureâwillâbeâdrawnâ intoâ theâcontainerâandâabsorbedâbyâtheâsalts.
11) WHEN TO DISPOSE OF A BLUING BATH - Toâ theâbestâ ofâ ourâknowledge,âthereâisânoâreasonâforâtheâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâtoâdeter-iorateâ exceptâ byâ contamination.â Therefore,â ifâ youâ areâ carefulâ andâconscientiousâaboutâpreventingâcontamination,âyouâmayâwellâbeâusingâthisâsameâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâforâmany,âmanyâyears.â â IfâdisposalâofâtheâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâfinallyâbecomesânecessary,âseeâ theâ completeâ Technicalâ Instructionsâ onâ Neutralizingâ NitreBlueâBluingâBaths,âpageâ8,âforâproperâdisposal.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION ON SETTING UP & USING WATER DISPLACING OIL
â â TheâWaterâDisplacingâOilâTankâ isâ theâ finalâ stepâ inâ theâNitreBlueâBluingâoperation,âandâoneâofâtheâmostâcriticalâifâyourâNitreBlueâbluedâjobâisâtoâlast,âonceâitâisâreturnedâtoâyourâcustomer.âWeâhighlyârecom-mendâWaterâDisplacingâOilâasâtheâoilâyouâuse.âItâisâformulatedâtoâactu-allyâremoveâallâ theâwaterâonâtheâbluedâparts,âmoleculeâbyâmolecule,âandâreplaceâ itâwithâ theâoil;âhenceâ theânameââWaterâDisplacingâOilâ.âInâaddition,âWaterâDisplacingâOilâhelpsâneutralizeâanyâBluingâBathâresidueâthatâmayâstillâbeâonâtheâmetal,âandâgivesâanâamazinglyâtough,ârust-resistantâfinishâtoâtheânewâblue.
DO NOT:â1)âDoâNotâheatâtheâtankâofâWaterâDisplacingâOil.âWeâdonâtâcareâwhoâtoldâyouâtoâuseââhotâoilâ,âyouâreâaâdamnâfoolâaboutâtoâburnâdownâyourâshopâifâyouâheatâaâtankâofâanyâoilâyouâcanâconceivablyâbuyâonâtheâindustrialâorâcommercialâmarket!âTheyâareâallâflammable;âtheyâburn.âDONâTâDOâIT!.â â WaterâDisplacingâOilâmustâbeâusedâatâroomâtemperature.âItâMUSTâNOTâBEâHEATEDâforâanyâreason,âatâanyâtime,âever!âItâhasâaâ flashâpointâ ofâ 150°â F.,â veryâ closeâ toâ thatâ ofâ kerosene.â Otherâ oilsâ areâ notâintendedâ toâbeâheatedâbyâanâoutsideâheatâ sourceâeither,âandâshouldânotâbe.âEvenââquenchingâoilsâ,âwhichâhaveâaâmuchâhigherâflashâpoint,âandâ doâ notâ flameâ whenâ onlyâ smallâ quantitiesâ ofâ heatedâ metalsâ areâplungedâintoâaâlargeâcoldâvolumeâofâthem,âwillâigniteâwhenâheatedâbyâanâoutsideâsource.
DO NOT:â 2)â Doâ Notâ useâ anyâ ofâ theâ new,â exoticâ rustâ removingâ oilsâ(thoseâhighlyâtoutedâonesâinâtheâmagazines)âonâbrand-newâNitreBlueâbluedâsteel.âTheseâoilsâmayâlightenâtheâcolorâofâtheâbluing.âTheyâalsoâgenerallyâ streak,â stainâ andâ damageâ newâ bluingâ untilâ itâ hasâ setâ upâthoroughly.âEspeciallyâavoidâWD-40âonââvirginââNitreBlueâbluedâsteel.âAfterâtheâbluedâsteelâhasâcuredâforâaâfewâdays,âitâisâthenâperfectlyâsafeâtoâuseâtheâmodernâwonderâoils,âifâyouâwish.
DO NOT:â 3)â Doâ Notâ layâ gunsâ orâ partsâ onâ theâ bottomâ ofâ theâ Waterâ
DisplacingâOilâTank.âAsâtheâwaterâisâremovedâfromâtheâguns,âitâsettlesâtoâtheâbottomâofâtheâtankâwithâtheâWaterâDisplacingâOilâfloatingâonâtopâ ofâ it.âUseâ racksâ inâ theâ tankâ toâkeepâ theâgunsâ offâ bottom.âManyâ'smithsâ installâ aâ radiatorâ drainâ cockâ inâ theâ bottomâ ofâ theâ WaterâDisplacingâOilâtanksâtoâperiodicallyâdrainâoffâtheâlargeâquantitiesâofâwaterâthatâaccumulate.
DO NOT:â4)âDoâNotâtryâtoâsaveâtheâremainsâofâWaterâDisplacingâOilâwhenâ itâ getsâ tooâ thickâ andâ âsolidifiedââ forâ efficientâ use.â Considerâ itââusedâ upââ andâ replaceâ withâ new.âTryingâ toâ saveâ itâ byâ dilutingâ withâsolventsâwillâchangeâtheâpredictabilityâofâpenetrationâandâprotection,âandâvoidâallâwarranties,âasâwellâasâalterâtheâsafetyâandâsuitabilityâofâtheâproduct.
â â AfterâimmersionâinâtheâWaterâDisplacingâOilâtank,âsetâtheâgunsâandâpartsâonâaâwireâmesh-bottomedâshelfâdirectlyâaboveâtheâoilâtankâsoâtheâextraâoilâdripsâbackâintoâtheâtank.âKeepâtheâWaterâDisplacingâOilâTankâtightlyâcoveredâwhenânotâinâuse,âandâkeepâawayâfromâopenâflames.
TECHNICAL INFORMATIONON THE NitreBlue BLUING BATH PROCESS
â â Theâ followingâ informationâ isâ includedâ hereâ beforeâ weâ getâ intoâtheâ actualâ operationâ ofâ theâ NitreBlueâ Bluingâ Bathâ toâ saveâ youâ asâmanyâmistakesâandâasâmuchâgriefâasâpossible.âIfâyouâbluedâwithâtheâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâlongâenough,âyouâwouldâprobablyâdiscoverâallâtheseâthingsâforâyourself,âhowever,âweâthinkâtheâmoreâknowledgeableâyouâareâbeforeâyouâstart,âtheâmoreâsuccessâyouâwillâhaveâwithâourâfirstâjob,â andâ theâmoreâ satisfactoryâandâ satisfyingâNitreBlueâBluingâwillâbeâforâyou.
1) NitreBlue BLUING WORKS ONLY ON STEEL soâdonâtâtryâitâonâanyâotherâmetalsâexceptâsteelâandâitsâalloys.âStainlessâSteelâwillânotâturnâblue,ânorâwillâsilverâsolderedâjoints.âPostâ1964âproductionâWinchesterâ94âsâ(aboveâserialânumberâ2,700,000)âwillânotâturnâblue.
2) DO NOT PLUG THE BORE - Becauseâ ofâ theâ extremelyâ highâtemperaturesânecessaryâtoâgetâtheâblueâcolorâusingâNitreBlueâBluingâBath,âtheâairâtrappedâinsideâtheâboreâwillâbuildâtoâtremendousâpres-sures,âandâblowâtheâplugâoutâexplosively.âThisâisâanâextremelyâdanger-ousâsituationâbecauseâtheâ600°âF.â+âBluingâBathâwillâbeâblownâoutâofâtheâBluingâTankâandâintoâtheâareaâsurroundingâit.âYouâstandâaâveryâgoodâchanceâofâgettingâseriouslyâburnedâifâthisâhappens.âSo,âDOâNOTâPLUGâTHEâBORE!
3) DISASSEMBLE THE GUN COMPLETELY - Beforeâbluing,âtheâgunâmustâbeâcompletelyâdisassembled.âEveryâpieceâthatâcanâbeâremovedâfromâtheâpartâyouâareâgoingâtoâNitreBlueâBlueâmustâbeâremoved.
4) NitreBlue BLUING DOUBLE BARREL SHOTGUN BARRELS, OR GUNS WITH ANY SOFT SOLDERING - Inâaâword,âDONâT.âTheâheatârequiredâ toâ colorâ steelâwithâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâwillâmeltâ solderâjointsâmadeâwithâHi-Forceâ44â˘âorâotherâsoftâsolders.âRegularâsilverâsolderedâorâbrassâbrazedâjointsâwillâstandâupâtoâNitreBlueâoperatingâtemperatures,â althoughâ theâ solderâ jointsâ willâ notâ color.â Evenâ ifâ theâgunâsâbarrelsâareâsilver-solderedâtogether,âitâisâvirtuallyâimpossibleâtoâgetâallâtheâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâoutâfromâbetweenâtheâbarrelsâandâfromâunderâtheâribs,âandâanyâentrappedâBluingâBathâwillâdrawâmois-tureâandâcauseârust.âWeâdonâtârecommendâyouâattemptâtoâNitreBlueâdoubleâbarrelsâorâanyâpartsâwithâsoftâsoldering.
5) WHEN REHEATING BLUING BATH, AGITATE FREQUENTLY TO AVOID HEAT ENTRAPMENT AND WATCH FOR ACCUMULATED MOISTURE - AfterâtheâfirstâtimeâyouâheatâupâyourâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâandâletâitâcoolâdown,âtheâBluingâBathâsolidifiesâintoâaâsolidâblock.âWhenâ readyâ toâ reheatâ theâ solidifiedâ Bluingâ Bath,â firstâ uncoverâ theâBluingâTankâandâturnâonâyourâheatâsource.âTheâsolidifiedâBluingâBathâwillâbeginâtoâmeltâonâtheâbottomâandâaroundâtheâsidesâofâtheâBluingâTankâ whereâ theâ solidifiedâ Bluingâ Bathâ isâ touchingâ theâ metal,â withâtheââchunkââofâsolidifiedâBluingâBathâ floatingâonâtheâmoltenâBluingâBathâunderneath.âUseâ theâ stirringâ toolâ toâ lightlyâmoveâ theââchunkââofâsolidifiedâBluingâBathâaroundâtoâpreventâtheâmoltenâBluingâBathâbeneathâitâfromâeruptingâbecauseâofâheatâentrapment.âContinueâmov-ingâtheââchunkâ,âstirringâandâagitatingâuntilâtheâentireâBluingâBathâisâcompletelyâmoltenâandâyouâcanâinsertâtheâthermometer.â(BeâcarefulâandâdoânotâgetâtheââchunkââofâsolidifiedâBluingâBathâtoârockingâupâandâdownâinâtheâBluingâTankâorâyouâcanâcreateâenoughâhydraulicâpressureâ
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OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
toâblastâhotâmoltenâBluingâBathâ outâ ofâ theâBluingâTank).âContinueâheatingâtoâbringâtheâBluingâBathâupâtoâoperatingâtemperature.âThen,âstirâ occasionallyâ toâ breakâ upâ theâ naturalâ heatâ stratificationâ andâ toâkeepâ theâ temperatureâ constantâ andâ uniformâ throughoutâ theâ entireâBluingâTank.ââ If moisture has accumulated in the Bluing Tank,âitâwillâusuallyâbeâinâtheâ formâofâaâthinâ layerâofâ liquidâonâtopâofâ theâblockâofâsolidifiedâBluingâBath.âBeforeâturningâonâtheâheatâsourceâtoâbeginâheatingâtheâBluingâ Bath,â pourâ offâ theâ accumulatedâ waterâ andâ disposeâ ofâ prop-erly.â(SeeâcompleteâTechnicalâInstructionsâonâNeutralizingâNitreBlueâBluingâ Baths,â pageâ 8,â forâ properâ disposal.)â Blotâ upâ anyâ remainingâaccumulatedâ waterâ withâ paperâ towelsâ andâ disposeâ ofâ them.â AnyâremainingâmoistureâwillâhaveâtoâbeâboiledâoutâofâtheâBluingâBath.â â PlaceâaâsheetâsteelâorâaluminumâcoverâoverâtheâBluingâTank,âleav-ingâ oneâ cornerâ openâ andâ uncoveredâ toâ allowâ moistureâ toâ escapeâ asâsteamâduringâheatingâofâtheâsolidifiedâBluingâBath.âTurnâonâtheâheatâsource.âAsâtheâsolidifiedâBluingâBathâmelts,âasâdescribedâabove,âslideâtheâcoverâasideâandâuseâtheâstirringâtoolâtoâlightlyâmoveâtheââchunkââofâsolidifiedâBluingâBathâaround,âstirringâandâagitatingâtheâBluingâBathâtoâpreventâ theâmoltenâBluingâBathâ fromâeruptingâ fromâunderneathâtheâ solidâ âchunkââ onâ theâ surface.â Insertâ theâ thermometerâ intoâ theâBluingâ Bathâ throughâ theâ openâ cornerâ afterâ theâ bathâ becomesâ com-pletelyâmolten.âUseâtheâstirringâtoolâtoâfrequentlyâstirâtheâBluingâBathâuntilâitâcomesâupâtoâtheârequiredâworkingâtemperature.â â Ifâ theâmoltenâBluingâBathâbeginsâ toâbubbleâasâ itâ isâheatedâtoâ theârequiredâ workingâ temperature,â thisâ indicatesâ thatâ waterâ hasâ beenâabsorbedâbyâ theâBluingâBath. IMPORTANT:â doânotâattemptâ toâ colorâsteelâuntilâtheâbubblingâstops.âTheâbubblingâactionâmayâcauseâwhiteâspotsâtoâappearâonâtheâparts.âTheâspotsâareâcausedâbyâairâbubblesâthatâattachâ themselvesâ toâ theâ partsâ andâ insulateâ theâ partâ fromâ theâ hotâBluingâ Bath.â Continueâ toâ heatâ theâ Bluingâ Bathâ untilâ theâ bubblingâstops.âAâmoistureâfreeâBluingâBathâwillânotâbubbleâevenâatâitsâmaxi-mumâworkingâtemperatureâofâ900°âF.â â WhenâallâtheâwaterâhasâbeenâboiledâoutâofâtheâBluingâBath,âitâwillâstopâbubbling.âCAUTION: DoânotâallowâtheâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâtoâheatâhigherâthanâ900°âF.âAfterâallâwaterâhasâbeenâboiledâout,âadjustâtheâ heatâ sourceâ andâ stabilizeâ atâ theâ requiredâ workingâ temperatureâbeforeâputtingâpiecesâintoâtheâBluingâBath.
6) SUSPEND PART IN TANK -â Partsâ shouldâ beâ suspendedâ inâ theâBluingâTankâ becauseâ contactâ withâ theâ edgesâ orâ bottom/sidesâ ofâ theâBluingâ Tankâ willâ causeâ excessiveâ heatâ conductionâ intoâ theâ partâ atâthatâ point,â andâ affectâ theâ uniformityâ ofâ theâ colorâ youâ areâ tryingâ toâget.âSmallâparts,âsuchâasâpinsâandâscrews,âshouldâbeâplacedâinâaâstain-lessâsteelâscreenâwireâpartsâbasketâorâsuspendedâbyâindividualâwiresâpriorâtoâimmersionâintoâtheâmoltenâBluingâBath.âLargerâparts,âsuchâasâbarrels,âcylinders,âtriggerguards,âandâbuttplates,âshouldâbeâriggedâonâblackâironâwireâsoâtheâwireâformsâhandlesâtoâsafelyâallowâtheâpartsâtoâ beâ placedâ intoâ andâ removedâ fromâ theâ BluingâTank.â Largerâ partsâcanâbeâsuspendedâbyââZââhooks.â(IfâyouâareâunfamiliarâwithââZââhooks,âpleaseâseeâpageâ12âofâtheâBluing Instructions & Supplies for Oxynate No. 7⢠Hot Bluingâforâsuggestionsâonâhowâtoâmakeâandâuseâthem.âAskâusâforâaâfreeâcopyâofâtheseâinstructionsâforâyourâshop.)
7) INSPECTING PARTS DURING BLUINGâhasâtoâbeâdoneâconstantlyâtoâbeâsureâtoâgetâtheâpartâtheâexactâcolorâyouâwantâitâtoâbe.âTheârealââsecretââtoâachievingâconsistentlyâgoodâresultsâwithâNitreBlueâBluingâisâ havingâ properâ lightingâ atâ theâ BluingâTankâ toâ reliablyâ âreadââ theâcolorâofâtheâpartsâasâtheyâareâinâtheâBluingâBath.âToâcheckâtheâcolor,âyouâcanâeitherâlookâatâtheâpartâthroughâtheâsurfaceâofâtheâBluingâBath,âorâ completelyâ removeâ itâ fromâ theâ BluingâTankâ toâ lookâ itâ overâ moreâcarefully.âInâourâexperience,âsmallâpartsâcanâbeâinspectedâwhileâstillâinâtheâBluingâTankâbut,âtoâbeâreallyâsureâofâtheâcolorâonâlargerâparts,âweâpreferâtoâtakeâthemâoutâofâtheâBluingâTankâandâinspectâveryâclosely.âWithâproperâ lightingâyouâcanâeasilyâobserveâ theâcolorâchanges.âBut,âtheâlightâmustâbeâgood,âandâmustâbeâincandescentâ(notâaâfluorescentâtube!)
8) SPOTS AND OTHER DISCOLORATIONS - WHITEâ SPOTS:â Usuallyâ unexplained,â andâ foundâ onâ otherwiseâperfectâparts,âareâcausedâbyâairâbubblesâclingingâtoâtheâsurfaceâofâtheâmetalâwhileâitâisâinâtheâNitreBlueâBluingâBath.âWhenâyouâfirstâputâtheâpartsâinâtheâBluingâBath,âtheâBluingâBathâwillââfreezeââonâtheâparts.âAsâ theseâ âFrozenââ crystalsâ melt,â youâ willâ noticeâ airâ bubblesâ onâ theâparts.âIfâtheseâbubblesâareânotâimmediatelyâremovedâfromâtheâsurfaceâofâ theâ parts,â theyâ willâ insulateâ theâ metalâ atâ thoseâ points,â andâ theâmetalâwillâhaveâaâwhiteâspotâpattern,âorâitâmayâhaveâpurpleâcoloredâspotsâwhileâtheârestâofâtheâpartâisâtheâproperâblueâcolor.â â Thereâ areâ twoâ waysâ ofâ dealingâ withâ theseâ airâ bubbles.â Onâ smallâparts,âagitateâtheâpartsâuntilâtheâBluingâBathâcrystalsâmeltâandâtheâbubblesâcomeâoffâtheâsurface.âWithâlargerâparts,âasâsoonâasâtheâBluingâ
Bathâ crystalsâmelt,â theâpartâwillâ startâ toâ turnâaâ lightââstrawââ color.âRemoveâtheâpartâfromâtheâBluingâBath,âandâveryâlightlyâwipeâtheâpartâwithâfine,âsteelâwoolâ(#0âorâ#00).âJustâgoâoverâitâthoroughlyâonce,âthenâreturnâtoâtheâBluingâBath.âTheâbubblesâwillânotâreformâonâtheâpart,âevenâthoughâitâhasâcooledâdownâsomeâwhileâoutâofâtheâBluingâBath.â â REDâSPOTS:âwillâsometimesâformâonâoldâparts,âandâareâcausedâbyârustâandâoilâaccumulatingâdeepâinâtheâbottomâofâpitting.âWhenâtheseâpartsâareâputâ intoâtheâNitreBlueâBluingâBath,â theseâ impuritiesâboilâout,â andâ generallyâ causeâ aâ redâ blemishâ inâ theâ colorâ atâ thatâ spot.âAâdilutedâacidâbathâorâtreatmentâwithâRustâRemoverâbeforeâNitreBlueâbluing,âorâjustâdoingâtheâpartâover,âwillâoftenâcureâthisâproblem.â â SPOTSâONâCASTINGS:âareânotâmuchâdifferentâfromâtheâdiscolor-ationâcausedâbyâpitting.âUsually,âtheâcastingâflawsâareâcleanerâandâtheâdiscolorationâless.âOneâcureâisâtoâfileâoffâtheâflawsâinâtheâcastingâbeforeâbluing.âInâareasâlikeâtheââjointââwhereâtheâtriggerâbowâjoinsâtheâgripâframeâonâaâsingleâactionârevolver,âtheâdiscolorationâcanâfrequentlyâbeâconcealedâwithâcoldâblue,âsuchâasâBrownellsâT-4â˘âorâOxpho-Blueâ˘.âBeâcareful,âandâjustâspotâinâtheâbadâareasâwhenâtheyâoccur.âIfâthisâisânotâpossible,âcleanâupâtheâflaw,âandâreblueâtheâpart.â â PATCHY,âDULLâCOLOR:âisâmostâgenerallyâcausedâbyâmicroscopicâoxidationâ (rust)â ofâ theâ surfaceâ ofâ theâ metalâ whichâ beginsâ immedi-atelyâ afterâ itâ isâ polishedâ andâ cleaned.â Thisâ canâ beâ aâ realâ problem.âNitreBlueâBluingâdoesânotâ colorâwellâ overâoxidation,âandâgivesâodd,âpatchyâblotchingâandâfrequentlyâaâdull,âlifelessâcolor.âYouâshouldâblueâtheâpartsâwithinâaâmaximumâofâ2âhoursâafterâpolishingâandâcleaning.âInâourâexperience,âevenâifâyouâoilâtheâpartsâandâtheyâstandâovernight,âtheyâmayânotâNitreBlueâBlueâwell.â â GENERALâ DISCOLORATIONS:â Someâ partsâ justâ doâ notâ wantâ toâtakeâonâaâuniformâcolor;âparticularlyâcomplicatedâparts.âIfâ thisâhap-pens,âplayâwithâ theâparts.âCheckâ toâbeâ sureâ theâ temperatureâofâ theâBluingâBathâisâcorrect.âTryâmoreâagitation.âFrontâsightsâonâpistolâbar-relsâareâespeciallyâbad.âOddlyâenough,âtheyâusuallyâdoânotâturnâcolorâasâ quicklyâ asâ theâ barrel.âAfterâ theâ barrelâ hasâ turnedâ theâ colorâ youâwant,âremoveâitâfromâtheâBluingâBath,âandâcarefullyâholdâtheâsightâinâtheâBluingâBathâwithâtheâbarrelâoutâuntilâtheâsightâturnsâtheârequiredâmatchingâcolor.
9) GOLD INLAYS areânotâaffectedâbyâNitreBlueâBluingâBath.âInâfact,âNitreBlueâBlueâwithâaâgoldâlineâorâgoldâinlayâisâspectacular!
10) TIME REQUIRED IN THE BLUING BATH -âTheâtimeâtheâpartâisâkeptâ inâ theâ moltenâ Bluingâ Bathâ isâ actuallyâ relativelyâ short,â andâ isâdependentâuponâthreeâfactors:âtheâtemperatureâofâtheâBluingâBath;âtheâcolorâdesired;âandâtheâcompositionâofâtheâalloyâbeingâblued.âTypically,âsmallerâpartsâwillâ takeâaboutâ5âminutes.âLargerâpartsâtakeâ10âmin-utes.â But,â justâ asâ temperatureâ readingâ onâ theâ thermometerâ cannotâdetermineâcolorâofâ theâpart,âneitherâcanâtimeâonâaâwatch.âYouâmustâleaveâtheâpartâinâtheâBluingâBathâuntilâitâisâtheâcolorâthatâyouâwish,âasâseenâbyâvisualâinspectionâunderâaâbright,âincandescentâlight.
11) REMOVING PARTS FROM THE BLUING BATH - Whenâtheâpartsâreachâ theâ desiredâ colorâ asâ determinedâ byâ visualâ inspection,â quicklyâremoveâ themâ fromâtheâBluingâBathâandâeitherâsetâ themâasideâonâaâheat-proofâsurfaceâtoâairâcool,âorâquenchâthemâinâwarmâwater.âWhichâwayâyouâcoolâ theâpartsâ isâstrictlyâaâmatterâofâpreferenceâ -âasâ farâasâourâownâtestingâhasâshown.âOurâonlyâsuggestionâwouldâbeâthatâifâyouâhaveâaâlargeânumberâofâbigâpartsâ-âwhichâwillâretainâaâlotâofâheatâandâtakeâaâlongâtimeâtoâcool,âorâmayârequireâaâveryâlargeâQuenchâTankâtoâkeepâ fromâboilingâtheâwaterâ inâ itâwhenâtheâpartâ isâputâ intoâ itâ -âyouâmayâwantâtoâ layâtheâpartsâasideâonâaâsafe,âheat-proofâsurfaceâtoâairâcool.âIfâyourâareâdoingâaâfewâsmallâparts,âwaterâquenchingâisâfasterâandâmoreâefficient.âTryâbothâmethodsâinâyourâshopâandâseeâwhichâworksâbestâforâyou.â
12) QUENCHING THE PARTS -âIfâyouâhaveâdecidedâtoâuseâaâwaterâquenchâforâtheâpartsâonceâtheyâareâblued,âaâcontainerâlargeâenoughâtoâcompletelyâsurroundâtheâpartâwithâwaterâworksâquiteâwellâtoâquenchâsmallâpartsâ (e.g.âpins,âscrews,âhammers,â triggers,âsights).âForâ largerâparts,âaâ21â2âgallonâmetalâbucketâgenerallyâisâsufficient.âForâbarrelsâorâlongerâparts,âaâfiberglassâtankâworks,âbutâyouâmustâkeepâtheâpartsâoutâofâcontactâwithâtheâbottomâorâsidesâofâtheâtankâtoâavoidâheatâdamageâtoâtheâtank.âAârackâorâyourâhangingâwiresâwillâdoâthisâforâyou.âHowever,âtheâwaterâvolumeâinâtheâfiberglassâtankâisâsmallâandâmayâheatâupâtoânearâboilingâifâmoreâthanâoneâbarrelâatâaâtimeâisâplacedâinâit.â â Afterâtheâpartsâhaveâcooledâenoughâtoâbeâhandledâsafely,âscrubâthemâcarefullyâ withâ aâ softâ brush,â likeâ theâ Brownellsâ Gun/Partsâ CleaningâBrush,âorâanâoldâtoothbrush,âtoâremoveâallâBluingâBathâresidueâthatâmayâstillâbeâclingingâtoâtheâparts.âBeâsureâtoâgetâridâofâallââdrag-outâ.âYouâmayâwantâtoâuseâanâadditional,âseparateâwarmâwaterârinseâtoâbeâsureâthatâallâtheâBluingâBathâresidueâisâremoved.
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13) WARM OR HOT WATER RINSE -â Ifâ theâ partsâ haveâ beenâ air-cooled,âtheââdrag-outââcoatingâofâtheâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâmustâbeâwashedâoffâtheâbluedâparts.âItâwillâdissolveâinâwarmâorâhotâwater,âandâMUSTâ beâ removedâ asâ soonâ asâ theâ partsâ areâ coolâ enoughâ toâ handleâsafely.â Ifâ allâ Bluingâ Bathâ residueâ isâ notâ removedâ completely,â theâhygroscopicânatureâofâtheâresidueâwillâattractâmoistureâfromâtheâairâandâbeginâformingârustâspotsâonâtheâsurfaceâofâtheânewlyâbluedâparts.âIfâ theâ partsâ areâ complicatedâ shapesâ withâ pinâ orâ screwâ holes,â slots,âorârivetedâassemblies,âwashâandâscrubâthemâveryâ thoroughlyâ inâhotâwaterâwithâtheâsoftâbrushesâmentionedâaboveâtoâremoveâanyâtrappedâBluingâBath.â
14) WATER DISPLACING OIL IMMERSION AND REASSEMBLY-âAfterâtheâpartsâhaveâbeenârinsedâandâscrubbedâinâtheâHotâWaterâTank,âcompletelyâ shakeâ offâ anyâ excessâ waterâ andâ immerseâ inâ theâ WaterâDisplacingâOilâTank.âBeâsureâtoâallowâtheâpartsâtoâsitâinâtheâdripârackâaboveâtheâWaterâDisplacingâOilâTankâovernightâtoâpermitâallâexcessâoilâtoâdripâbackâintoâtheâWaterâDisplacingâOilâTank,âandâtoâletâtheâpartsâcureâovernightâbeforeâreassembling.
â â Weâ areâ nowâ readyâ toâ actuallyâ beginâ bluingâ withâ theâ NitreBlueâBluingâ Bath.â Followâ theseâ stepsâ inâ theâ orderâ givenâ toâ minimizeâpotentialâ problems.â Ifâ youâ decideâ toâ deviateâ fromâ thisâ order,â pleaseâunderstandâ thatâ weâ mayâ notâ beâ ableâ toâ solveâ theâ problemsâ yourâdeviationâcreates.âTheâBrownellsâNitreBlueâBluingâSystemâworksâasâoutlinedâbelow;âpleaseâuseâthisâprocedureâsoâweâcanâhelpâyouâifâthingsâgoâastrayâforâyou.â
STARTING UP TANKS AND BATHS
(1) PREPARE THE SURFACE OF THE METALâtoâbeâNitreBlueâbluedâbyâ polishingâ asâ desired,â sandâ blasting,â beadâ blasting,â acidâ etching,âwireâwheelâbrushing,âetc.âNitreBlueâBluingâwillâhideânothing.â â Cleanâoffâallâcrud,âoils,âandâgreaseâfromâgunsâwithâdâSolveâ˘âorâTCEâCleanerâ Degreaser,â andâ getâ absolutelyâ clean.â Runâ patchedâ cleaningârodâthroughâboreâandâmagazineâtubesâtoâcleanâoutâallâcrud.âCheckâforâandâremoveâobstructions.âAllâpartsâmustâbeâcompletelyâcleanâandâdryâbeforeâgoingâintoâtheâBluingâBath.â
â â (2) START NitreBlue BLUING BATH -â â NEWâBATHâ-âSeeâpageâ4,ââToâStart-upâaâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâ.âFollowâtheseâstepsâexactly.âDoâNotâDiluteâtheâNitreBlueâBluingâSaltsâinâanyâway;âuseâonlyâtheâNitreBlueâBluingâSaltsâasâtheyâcomeâfromâtheâcontainer.â â EXISTINGâNitreBlueâBLUINGâBATHSâ-â â âa)âTurnâonâyourâheatâsource.â â ââb)âAsâtheâsolidifiedâBluingâBathâmeltsâonâtheâbottomâandâsidesâofâ
theâ Bluingâ Tank,â theâ âchunkââ floatsâ onâ theâ moltenâ Bluingâ Bathâunderneath.âMoveâtheâblockâaround,âagitatingâandâstirring,âtoâpre-ventâtheâmoltenâBluingâBathâfromâeruptingâfromâbeneathâit.
â â ââc)âContinueâstirring/agitatingâuntilâtheâBluingâBathâisâcompletelyâmolten.
â â ââd)âInsertâtheâthermometer.âContinueâheatingâtoâbringâupâtoâoperat-ingâ temperature.âOperateâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâ slightlyâhigherâthanâtemperaturesâshownâbesideâcolors.
(3) FILL QUENCH TANKâ withâ fresh,â clean,â roomâ temperatureâwater.
(4) FILL HOT WATER RINSE TANKâwithâ freshâcleanâwaterâatâ120°âF.âtoâ150°âF.
(5) REFER TO TEMPERATURES AS INDICATED BY THE COLOR OF PLAIN CARBON STEEL CHART inâpreviousâcolumnâtoâchooseâantici-patedâoperatingâtemperature.âOperateâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâslightlyâhigherâthanâtemperaturesâshownâbesideâcolors.
STEP-BY-STEP NitreBlue BLUING OPERATION
CLEAN AND DEGREASE ALL PARTS toâremoveâallâdirt,âgrease,âoilâandâcrudâtoâkeepâcontaminantsâoutâofâtheâBluingâBath.
THOROUGHLY DRY ALL PARTS.âEvenâtheâmostâminuteâamountâofâ waterâ willâ flashâ toâ steamâ inâ theâ super-heatedâ NitreBlueâBluingâ Bathâ andâ canâ causeâ dangerousâ eruptionsâ ofâ moltenâBluingâBath.
IMMERSE PARTS IN THE BLUING BATH withinâ aâ maxi-mumâ ofâ 2â hoursâ afterâ polishing/cleaning.â Typicalâ OperatingâTemperature:â600° F. to 650° F.âTypicalâTime in Bluing Bath: 5 minutes for small parts; 10 minutes for larger parts. Color of part determines when to remove.
REMOVE PART AND QUENCH OR AIR COOL whenâ colorâwantedâisâreached.âCheckâcarefullyâunderâbright,âincandescentâlight;âdoânotâuseâfluorescentâbulb.
RINSE AND SCRUB PARTS IN HOT WATER TO REMOVE RESIDUEâinâHotâWaterâTank.âScrubâthoroughlyâtoâdissolveâallââdragged-outââBluingâBath.
SUSPEND IN WATER DISPLACING OIL.Transferâpartsâquicklyâtoâ Waterâ Displacingâ Oilâ Tankâ andâ plungeâ intoâ tank,â agitat-ingâ vigorouslyâ forâ aâ minuteâ orâ so.â Allowâ partsâ toâ coolâ whileâimmersedâ inâ theâ Waterâ Displacingâ Oil.â Use full strength. Operating Temperature: room temperature; recommended 68° F. min. to 90° F. maximum. DO NOT HEAT OIL. Immersion Time: until parts are cool; typically 45-60 minutes toâ allowâmaximumâdisplacementâofâentrappedâwater.
âCUREâ BLUING AND REASSEMBLE GUN. Removeâ fromâWaterâ Displacingâ Oilâ Tank,â andâ hangâ onâ rackâ overâ tankâ toâallowâexcessâoilâtoâdrainâbackâintoâtank.âAllowâtoâcureâatâleastâovernight.âWhenâcured,âwipeâexcessâoilâoffâpartsâwithâsoftâclothâandâreassembleâgun.
IfâaâgunâdoesânotâcomeâoutâofâtheâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâlookingâlikeâyouâ thinkâ itâ should,âdoânotâ immediatelyâassumeâyouâdidâsomethingâwrong,âorâtheâprocessâorâchemicalsâareâatâfault.âTakeâaâgoodâlookâatâtheâmetalâofâtheâpartâthatâisâunsatisfactory:â â StainlessâSteelâwillânotâblueâinâNitreBlueâBluingâBath.â â Winâ Modelâ 94âsâ postâ 1964,â aboveâ serialâ #2,700,000,â willâ notâ turnâblueâinâNitreBlueâBluingâBath,âbutâturnâaâmottledâpurpleâwithâsomeâareasânotâcoloringâatâall.â â Someâcastâironsâwillâcolor;âothersâwillânot.âThereâseemsâtoâbeânoâwayâtoâtellâbeforeâattemptingâtoâdoâthem,âsoâallâyouâcanâdoâisâtryâandâseeâwhatâhappens.â â Theâcaseâhardenedâpartsâthatâweâtriedâdidâtakeâaâgoodâblueâasâlongâasâ theâ surfaceâ preparationâ wasâ uniform.â Ifâ theâ colorâ caseâ harden-ingâ hasâ beenâ wornâ through,â orâ damaged,â theâ colorâ achievedâ byâ theâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâmayânotâbeâuniformâandâeven.â â Investmentâcastâpartsâseemâtoâcomeâoutâwithâaâgoodâcolor.âNotâhav-ingâtestedâallâtheâmyriadâofâcastingâalloysâbeingâusedâinâtheâfirearmsâindustry,âweâareânotâsureâwhichâmightânotâwork;âeverythingâweâhaveâtriedâsoâfarâtakesâonâaâgoodâblueâcolor.â â Oneâofâtheâuniqueâservicesâweâofferâallâourâbluingâcustomersâisâper-
076-200-362 R502 Š 2002 BROWNELLS, INC. Page 7 of �2
NitreBlue BLUING OPERATION STEPS
WARNING: Wear face shield; heat resistant gloves; heavy-duty, cotton or canvas shop apron (not synthetic blends); long sleeved 100% wool or cotton shirt and pants (not synthetic blends); and high-topped leather work shoes or boots while operating the NitreBlue Bluing System. Use these products ONLY in a well ven-tilated area. Keep all products Out of Reach of Children
Degrees Degrees Centigrade Fahrenheit Color Of Steel 22�.� �30 Very pale yellow 226.7 ��0 Light yellow 232.2 �50 Pale straw-yellow 237.8 �60 Straw-yellow 2�3.3 �70 Deep straw-yellow 2�8.9 �80 Dark yellow 25�.� �90 Yellow-brown 260.0 500 Brown-yellow 265.6 5�0 Spotted red-brown 27�.� 520 Brown-purple 276.7 530 Light purple 282.2 5�0 Full purple 287.8 550 Dark purple 293.3 560 Full blue 298.9 570 Dark blue 337.8 6�0 Light blue
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IN CASE OF TROUBLE
WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS - CALL US AT 800-741-0015
Monday thru Friday: 9:00 to 4:00 Central Time
Tell the operator: âIâve got a NitreBlue bluing problem.âYou will get help!
sonal,âindividualâhelpâwithâtheâproblemsâyouâmayâencounterâinâyourâBluingâ Operation.â Itâsâ somethingâ weâ enjoyâ doingâ becauseâ weâ knowâbluingâisâanâimportantâpartâofâyourâshopâsâsuccess,âandâweâwantâyouâtoâsucceedâeveryâbitâasâmuchâasâyouâdo.âIfâyouâhaveâaâproblemâyouâcannotâsolve,âpleaseâcallâus.âWeâwantâtoâhelp.
â â NOTE:âIfâyouâdoâcall,âbeâsureâtoâhaveâanswersâalreadyâworkedâoutâtoâtheâquestionsâlistedâbelow,âandâweâwillâbeâableâtoâgetâtoâtheâgistâofâyourâ troubleâ almostâ immediately.âWaitâ toâ callâ untilâ youâ haveâ thoseâanswers,âforâweâneedâtheâinformationâtheyâwillâgiveâusâtoâtrackâdownâtheâproblem...andâweâreâgoingâtoâaskâyouâforâthem.
1)âWhatâgunâareâyouâtryingâtoâblue? 2)ââHowâ oldâ isâ yourâ NitreBlueâ Bluingâ Bath,â andâ whatâ gunsâ
haveâyouâbluedâinâit? 3)âWhatâcleaningâsolutionâdoâyouâuse? 4)âWhatâisâyourâoperatingâtemperature? 5)âWhatâcolorâdoâyouâwantâtoâget? 6)âDidâtheâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâboil;âwasâthereâwaterâinâit?â 7)âHowâoftenâdoâyouâstirâtheâNitreBlueâBluingâBath? 8)ââWhatâtankâareâyouâusing,âwhatâheatâsource,âandâhowâdeepâ
isâtheâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâinâtheâtank? 9)âWhatâthermometerâareâyouâusing,âandâwhereâisâitâmount-ed?10)ââHowâmuchâtimeâelapsedâbetweenâpolishingâtheâsteel?âWhatâ
brandâofâPolish?âWhichâgritâsize?11)ââWhatâmethodâdidâyouâuseâtoâpolishâtheâSteel?âWhatâbrandâ
ofâPolish?âWhichâgritâsize?
NEUTRALIZINGNitreBlue Bluing Bath
â â Dueâtoâaânumberâofâfactors,âmanyâmunicipalâandâlocalâgovernmentsâhaveâ placedâ restrictionsâ onâ theâ disposalâ ofâ potentiallyâ hazardousâwasteâ materials,â whichâ includesâ depletedâ NitreBlueâ Bluingâ Bathâandâtheâskimmedâoffâ foam.â Inâ theâmajorityâofâ cases,â theâdisposalâofâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâcanâbeâhandledâ inâyourâownâshopâtoâcomplyâwithâallâenvironmentalâregulations.âTheâproceduresâthatâfollowâwereâdevelopedâ inâconjunctionâwithâresearchâchemistsâatâoneâofâ theâ larg-estâchemicalâ facilitiesâ inâtheâworld.âTheseâscientistsâhaveâdevelopedâaâ simple,â effectiveâ methodâ whichâ removesâ anyâ hazardsâ thatâ oldâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâposeâtoâtheâenvironment,âandâallowsâthemâtoâbeâdisposedâofâinâaâsanitaryâsewer.â â Theâ compoundâ inâ NitreBlueâ Bluingâ Bathâ andâ skimmedâ foamâ weâmustâdealâ withâ isâSodiumâ Nitrite.â Ifâ itâwereâ simplyâdumpedâ intoâaâsewerâsystem,âitâcould,âunderâcertainâconditions,âcreateâproblemsâwithânormalâsolidâwasteâdisposal.âIfâitâisâsimplyâdumpedâonâtheâgroundâorâburied,âitâcouldâcontaminateâtheâgroundâwater.âTherefore,âbeforeâsafeâdisposalâ isâpossible,â itâ isânecessaryâtoâneutralize,â convertâandâmakeâtheâSodiumâNitriteânon-hazardous.
MATERIALS REQUIRED
Toâ properlyâ neutralizeâ NitreBlueâ Bluingâ Bathâ andâ theâ skimmedâfoam,âyouâwillârequireâtheâfollowingâmaterials:
1.ââNeutralizingâVatâ -â1â -â capableâofâholdingâaâvolumeâatâ leastâ8âtoâ10âtimesâtheâvolumeâofâtheâsolidifiedâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâ toâ beâ neutralized.â Vatâ mustâ beâ non-galvanizedâ steel,âstainlessâ steelâ orâ heatâ andâ acidâ resistantâ polypropyleneâ orâfiberglass.
2.âDryâSulfamicâAcidâ-â1âbagâ-âtoâdoâtheâneutralizing.3.â31°âHydrochloricâAcid.4.âLitmusâPaperâwithâaârangeâofâ0âtoâ14.5.âPotassiumâIodide-StarchâTestâPaper.6.âCanâofâHouseholdâLye.
TO NEUTRALIZE
Underânormalâconditions,â itâtakesâaboutâ15âminutesâtoâneutralizeâapproximatelyâ 1â gallonâ ofâ NitreBlueâ Bluingâ Bath,â whichâ typicallyâweighsâ approximatelyâ â 17â poundsâ afterâ itâ hasâ beenâ dissolvedâ andâtransferredâ intoâ theâ neutralizingâ vat.â Becauseâ theâ sameâ processâ isâusedâtoâneutralizeâbothâtheâskimmedâfoamâandâtheâBluingâBath,âweâhaveâwrittenâtheseâinstructionsâtreatingâbothâtheâskimmedâfoamâandâtheâBluingâBathâtheâsame.âEachâstepâcoversâtheâdifferencesâbetweenâthem,â ifâ anyâ exist.â Theâ pinkâ dyeâ incorporatedâ intoâ new,â unmeltedâNitreBlueâBluingâSaltsâisânotâhazardousâbyâitself.âWhenâtheâNitreBlueâBluingâSaltsâareâ initiallyâmelted,â theâdyeâ formsâaâ foamâthatâshouldâbeâ skimmedâ fromâ theâ surfaceâ ofâ theâ Bluingâ Bathâ toâ permitâ youâ toâcarefullyâandâaccuratelyâobserveâtheâcolorâchangesâofâtheâpartsâbeingâblued.âItâisâimpossibleâtoâskimâoffâtheâfoamâwithoutâalsoâdippingâoutâsomeâofâtheâmoltenâBluingâBath,âwhichâwillâhaveâmixedâintoâtheâfoamâitself.âWhenâskimmingâoffâtheâfoam,âhaveâaâheat-proofâcontainerâavail-ableâtoâplaceâtheseââskimmingsââinto.
NOTE: STRONG TOXIC FUMES WILL BE CREATED WHEN THE SULFAMIC ACID IS ADDED TO THE NitreBlue BLUING BATH. YOU MUST PROVIDE STRONG, FORCED VENTILATION WITH LARGE AMOUNTS OF FRESH AIR THROUGH THE BLUING ROOM WHEN NEUTRALIZING THE BLUING BATH.âBetter yet, move the operation outside, and set a large fan blowing directly at you to clear the toxic fumes out of your vicinity as quickly as possible.
â â (1)â Determineâ theâ weightâ ofâ theâ coldâ foam/solidifiedâ Nitreâ BlueâBluingâBathâthatâneedsâtoâbeâneutralized,âandânoteâthisâweight.â â (2)âDetermineâtheâvolumeâofâtheâcoldâfoam/BluingâBath,âandâslowlyâaddâaboutâ8âtoâ10âtimesâthatâvolumeâofâhot-to-boilingâ(150°-212°âF.)âwaterâintoâtheâfoamâcontainerâorâBluingâBathâTank.âStirâthoroughlyâuntilâallâtheâsolidifiedâfoamâandâBluingâBathâisâdissolvedâbeforeâgoingâonâtoâtheânextâstep.â â Ifâ theâ BluingâTankâ isâ notâ largeâ enoughâ toâ holdâ allâ theâ hotâ waterâspecified,âaddâhotâwaterâ toâdissolveâasâmuchâsolidifiedâBluingâBathâasâpossibleâandâpourâtheâdissolvedâsolutionâintoâtheâneutralizingâvat,âinâstepâ3âbelow.âContinueâaddingâhot-to-boilingâwaterâtoâtheâsolidifiedâBluingâBathâuntilâitâisâallâdissolvedâandâtransferredâtoâtheâvat.â â (3)âTransferâtheâdissolvedâfoam/BluingâBathâintoâtheâneutralizingâvat.â â (4)âYouâcanâassumeâthatâaboutâ40%âofâtheâtotalâweightâofâtheâfoam/NitreBlueâ Bluingâ Bathâ determinedâ inâ stepâ (1)â isâ Sodiumâ Nitrite,âwhichâwillâhaveâtoâbeâneutralizedâpriorâtoâsafeâdisposal.âMultiplyâtheâtotalâweightâxâ .40â=â6.8âlbs.âofâSodiumâNitrateâtoâneutralizeâ6.8âlbs.âofânitrateâxâ1.5âlbs.âSulfamicâperâpoundâofâSodiumâNitrateâ=â10.2âlbs.âofâSulfamicâAcidârequiredâtoâneutralizeâ17âlbs.âofâsolidifiedâNitreBlueâBluingâBath.â
FORMULA: For each pound of Sodium Nitrite pres-ent by weight in the Bluing Bath, add 11â2 pounds dry weight of Sulfamic Acid to the solution in the neutral-izing vat. (REMEMBER:â Becauseâ theâ Bluingâ Bathâ isâonlyâ 40%â (.4)â Sodiumâ Nitrate,â eachâ poundâ ofâ BluingâBathâcontainsâonlyâaboutâ6.4âouncesâofâSodiumâNitrate!)âDoânotâaddâtheâSulfamicâAcidâallâatâonce.âMeasureâoutâtheâamountârequiredâandâdivideâ intoâseparateâ lots,ânotâexceedingâ 1â2â lb.â perâ lot.â (1â2â lb.â ofâ dryâ Sulfamicâ Acidâ isâapproximatelyâoneâ(1)â8âoz.âcupfulâbyâvolume.)
â â (5)âTakeâoneâofâtheâmeasuredâ1â2âlb.âlotsâofâmeasuredâdryâSulfamicâAcidâandâaddâitâslowlyâalongâtheâtopâofâtheâsolutionâinâyourâneutral-izingâvat.ââ â (6)â Continueâ addingâ 1â2â lb.â amountsâ -â orâ theâ measuredâ portionsâthereofâ -â ofâdryâSulfamicâAcidâ toâ theâ solutionâuntilâyouâhaveâaddedâaboutâoneâhalfâ(1â2)âofâtheâamountârequiredâinâstepâ(4).â â (7)âCheckâtheâPHâofâtheâsolutionâwithâLitmusâPaperâhavingâaârangeâofâ0âtoâ14.âTheâsolutionâwillâstartâwithâanâinitialâpHâofâapproximatelyâ7.5âtoâ10,âbutâmayârunâhigher.âWhenâyouâtestâtheâsolutionâatâthisâtime,âtheâ pHâ shouldâ readâ lower,â inâ theâ 5â toâ 7â range.â NOTE:âAlwaysâ readâLitmusâPaperâcolorsâunderâgood,âbrightâlight.â â (8)âContinueâaddingâtheâmeasuredâportionsâofâtheâdryâSulfamicâAcidâuntilâyouâhaveâaddedâenoughâtoâequalâ11â2âlb.âdryâweightâofâSulfamicâAcidâ forâ1â lb.â ofâSodiumâNitriteâ inâ theâsolutionâasâdeterminedâ fromâyourâmultiplicationâinâstepâ(4).â â (9)âCheckâtheâpHâagain.âAtâthisâpoint,âtheâpHâshouldâbeâinâtheâareaâofâ3âtoâ4.âYouâmustâlowerâtheâpHâtoâ2.5âtoâ3,âandâcontinueâaddingâsmallâamountsâofâSulfamicâAcidâtoâaccomplishâthis.âWithâsmallâquantitiesâofâ liquids,â thisâ isâ trickyâ becauseâ theâ pHâ changesâ soâ quickly.â Useâ aâtablespoonfulâ(orâlessâforâaâsmallâsolution)âatâaâtimeâofâdryâSulfamicâAcid,âcheckingâfrequentlyâwithâtheâLitmusâPaperâuntilâtheâpHâreachesâtheârangeâofâ2.5âtoâ3.â â (10)â Whenâ theâ pHâ readsâ betweenâ 2.5â andâ 3,â checkâ forâ SodiumâNitriteâ concentrationâ byâ dippingâ aâ pieceâ ofâ theâ Potassiumâ Iodide-
Page 8 of �2 Š 2002 BROWNELLS, INC. 076-200-362 R502
WARNING - PERSONAL PROTECTION REQUIRED
Asâwithâanyâchemicalâsolution,âcareâshouldâbeâtakenâwhenâwork-ingâ withâ theâ bluingâ solutions.â ALWAYSâ wearâ properâ protectiveâclothing,â includingâ aâ Long-Sleevedâ Cottonâ Shirt,â Heavyâ RubberâGloves,â Neopreneâ Rubberâ Apron,â Rubberâ Boots,â Full-Faceâ SafetyâShieldâandâFilterâMask.âAvoidâcontactâwithâ theâbluingâsaltsâsolu-tion.âWorkâonlyâinâaâwellâventilatedâarea.â(Weâdoâourâneutralizingâoutside,âandâifâthereâisânoâbreezeâtoâclearâtheâfumesâoutâofâtheâarea,âweâuseâaâlargeâfloorâfanâflowingâonâtheâoperatorâtoâkeepâaâconstantâsupplyâofâfreshâairâavailable).âInâaddition,âhaveâfirstâaidâmaterialsâconsistingâofâaâbottleâofâwhiteâvinegar,âaâbucketâofâclean,âcoolâwaterâandâseveralâpaperâorâclothâtowelsâonâhandâinâcaseâofâanâaccident.
StarchâTestâPaperâ intoâtheâsolution,âandâthenâputtingâ justâoneâdropâofâ 31°â Hydrochloricâ Acidâ onâ theâ wettedâ partâ ofâ theâ paper.â (Thisâ isâstandard,â fullâ strengthâ31°âHydrochloricâAcid,â frequentlyâ calledâ18°âBaume'âMuriaticâAcid.âItâisâavailableâfromâBrownellsâorâanyâchemicalâsupplyâhouseâorâhighâschoolâchemistryâlab.)âIfâtheâwettedâpartâofâtheâpaperâturnsâanyâshadeâofâpurple,ânitritesâareâpresent.âContinueâadd-ingâsmallâamountsâofâdryâSulfamicâAcid.âIfâtheâcolorâofâtheâwettedâpartâofâtheâpaperâisâunchanged,âthenâtheânitritesâhaveâbeenâremoved.â â Theâ dryâ SulfamicâAcidâ notâ onlyâ lowersâ theâ pHâ levelâ ofâ theâ solu-tion,âbutâatâtheâsameâtimeâitâalsoâcomplexesâ(chemicallyâtiesâup)âtheânitritesâandâmakesâthemânon-hazardous.âThus,â ifâyouâdoâshowâcolorâchange,âyouâwillâneedâtoâaddâveryâsmallâamountsâofâdryâSulfamicâAcidâtoâcomplexâtheâremainingânitrites.âWhenâyouâdoâthis,âyouâwillâcontinueâtoâlowerâtheâpH,âbutâveryâslowly.â â (11)âWhenâyouâhaveânoâpurpleâcolorâshowingâusingâtheâPotassiumâIodide-Starchâ test,â theâ neutralizedâ foam/Bluingâ Bathâ mustâ nowâ beâraisedâbackâtoâtheâ6.5âtoâ7.5âpHârangeâbeforeâitâcanâsafelyâbeâdisposedâof.âInâorderâtoâraiseâtheâpH,âyouâmustâaddâsmallâamountsâofâstraightâhouseholdâLye,âavailableâfromâanyâgroceryâstore.âBeginâbyâaddingâLyeâintoâtheâbath,âoneâtablespoonfulâ(orâlessâforâaâsmallâsolution)âatâaâtime,âstirringâasâyouâaddâit,âandâwatchingâforâfoamingâonâtheâtopâofâtheâsolu-tion.â(IfâyouâareâaddingâveryâsmallâamountsâofâLye,âyouâmayânotâseeâvisibleâfoaming.)âJustâasâaddingâtheâdryâSulfamicâAcidâtoâtheâsolutionâcausedâfoamingâwhenâtheâsolutionâhadâaâpHâaboveâneutralâ(7âpH),âtheâLyeâwillâcauseâfoamingâonâtheâsurfaceâasâlongâasâtheâsolutionâhasâaâpHâthatâ isâbelowâneutralâ (7pH).âOnceâyouâaddâaâ fewâmoreâgranulesâofâLyeâandâtheâsolutionâdoesânotâfoam,âstopâaddingâLyeâandâcheckâtheâpH.âItâshouldâbeâinâtheârangeâofâ6.5âtoâ7.5.âWithâaâlittleâpractice,âyouâwillâhaveâtoâdoâveryâlittleââbalancingââasâyouâlearnâhowâtheâsolutionâreactsâwithâtheâadditionâofâeachâchemical.â â (12)â Onceâ theâ solutionâ hasâ beenâ neutralizedâ withâ allâ theâ nitritesâcomplexedâandâremoved,âandâtheâpHâadjustedâtoâtheârangeâofâ6.5âtoâ7.5,âtheâsolutionâcanâbeâdisposedâofâinâaâsanitaryâsewerâsystem.âThisâmustâ beâ doneâ inâ accordanceâ withâ localâ ordinances,â andâ youâ shouldâcheckâthemâtoâseeâwhatâfurtherârequirementsâ-âifâanyâ-âyouâmightâhaveâtoâmeet.â(Theâneutralizedâsolutionâmustânotâbeâdumpedâintoâaâclosed,ârecirculatingâsanitaryâsystem,âorâaâstormâdrainâsystem.)â â (13)â Rinseâ outâ yourâ neutralizingâ vatâ andâ repeatâ theâ neutralizingâsequenceâ asâ necessaryâ toâ neutralizeâ allâ theâ foam/NitreBlueâ BluingâBathâyouâwishâtoâdisposeâof.
NOTES
â â Theâsizeâofâtheâneutralizingâvatâisânotâcritical.âYouâcanâsafelyâneu-tralizeâupâtoâtwoâgallonsâofârawâfoam/NitreBlueâBluingâBathâatâaâtimeâjustâasâwellâasâone.âHowever,âyouâmustâuseâaâlargeâenoughâcontainerâtoâ haveâ sufficientâ surfaceâ areaâ toâ allowâ forâ rapidâ dispersionâ ofâ theâheatâandâfumesâgeneratedâbyâtheâmixingâofâtheâdryâSulfamicâAcidâinâtheâsolution.â â Forâ yourâ ownâ edification,â testâ theâ Potassiumâ Iodide-Starchâ TestâPaperâinârawâfoam/NitreBlueâBluingâBathâ(itâturnsâpurple),âandâwithâ31°âHydrochloricâAcidâaloneâ(again,âpurple).âTheâunwettedâpartâofâaâtestâpieceâusedâinâaâproperlyâneutralizedâsolutionâturnsâpurple.âDoânotâreadâtestâresultsâatâtheâmarginâwhereâtheâwettedâsurfaceâmeetsâtheâdryâsurfaceâofâtheâpaper.âReadâonlyâinâtheâcenterâofâtheâwettedâarea.âReadâonlyâunderâgood,âbrightâlightingâtoâgetâaccurateâcolorâreadings.â
HEAT TREATINGWITH NitreBlue BLUING SALTS
INTRODUCTION
â â Becauseâitâisâaâstable,ânon-contaminating,âcontrolledâheatâproduct,âNitreBlueâBluingâSaltsâcanâbeâusedâtoâdrawâtheâtemperâofâpartsâthatâhaveâbeenâheatedâtoâaâhighâtemperatureâandâquenchedâinâeitherâoilâorâwater.âThisâtemperingâ(drawing)âwillâprovideâtheâcorrectâcombinationâofâhardnessâandâtoughnessâforâthatâpart.âTheâmostâcommonâgunâpartsâwhichâneedâ correct,â controlledâheatâ temperingâ (drawing)âareâ flatâ orââVâ-typeâgunâsprings.âTherefore,âtheseâinstructionsâareâwrittenâusingâaâspringâasâourâexample.âOfâcourse,âtheâsameâtechniquesâwillâworkâonââallâpartsâonâwhichâtheâtemperâneedsâtoâbeâdrawnâinâaâcontrolledâheatâprocess.âConsultâtheâsteelâmanufacturerâforâtheâproperâtemperatureâandâtimeârangeâforâtemperingâ(drawing)âpartsâtoâaâspecificâhardness.
PROFESSIONAL TECHNIQUEOF SPRING MAKING AND DRAWING TEMPER
USING NitreBlue BLUING SALTSâ â (1)âHeatâ theâ shapedâ springâblankâ toâ cherryâ redâandâquenchâ itâ inâtheâproperâoil.â â (2)â Onceâ theâ springâ hasâ cooledâ sufficientlyâ toâ beâ handledâ safely,â
carefullyâcleanâandârepolishâitâwithoutâflexingâbecauseâpriorâtoâtem-pering,âtheâspringâisâextremelyâbrittle.â â (3)âTurnâonâtheâheatâunderâtheâNitreBlueâBluingâTank,âandâstabi-lizeâtheâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâatâtheâcorrectâoperatingâtemperatureâforâ theâ workâ theâ springâ isâ goingâ toâ haveâ toâ do.â (Referâ toâ theâ chartââTemperatureâ Guideâ forâ Heatingâ andâ Temperingâ ofâ Carbonâ Steelâ,âgivenâbelow.)â â (4)âWrapâaâblackâironâwireââhandleââaroundâtheâspringâandâimmerseâitâ intoâ theâ NitreBlueâ Bluingâ Bath.â Makeâ sureâ theâ springâ doesâ notâtouchâtheâbottomâofâtheâBluingâTankâandâstaysâcompletelyâimmersedâinâtheâBluingâBath.â â (5)â Forâ aâ lightâ springâ (e.g.:â shotgunâ topâ leverâ orâ searâ spring)â tenâminutesâ immersionâ atâ theâ requiredâ operatingâ temperatureâ isâ suffi-cient.âHeavierâspringsâ(e.g.:âTrapdoorâSpringfieldâmainspring)ârequireâfifteenâtoâtwentyâminutesâimmersionâforâconsistentâtemperingâproper-ties.â â (6)âRemoveâtheâspringâfromâtheâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâandâallowâtoâairâcool.â â (7)âCleanâtheâspringâthoroughlyâinâhotâorâboilingâwaterâtoâremoveâanyâNitreBlueâBluingâBathâresidueâthatâmayâstillâbeâonâtheâspring.â â (8)â Immerseâ theâ springâ inâ Waterâ Displacingâ Oilâ toâ removeâ anyâtracesâofârinseâwater.â â (9)âTestâspringâthroughâitsânormalârangeâofâmovementâbeforeâput-tingâitâintoâservice.
NOTES
â â Mostâ springâ steelsâ willâ requireâ temperingâ atâ aboutâ 625°â F.â ThisâtemperatureâisâgenerallyâhotterâthanâwhatâisârequiredâforâNitreBlueâBluing.âIfâtheâalloyâofâtheâspringâsteelâisâunknown,âitâisâbestâtoâstartâatâ aâ higherâ temperatureâ andâ makeâ theâ springâ tooâ softâ ratherâ thanâtooâbrittle.âIfâitâisâtooâsoft,âtheâspringâwillâsimplyâtakeâaââsetââandâcanâbeâ rehardened,â thenâ retemperedâ (redrawn)âatâaâ lowerâ temperature.âIfâtemperedâ(drawn)âatâtooâlowâaâtemperature,âtheâspringâwillâbeâtooâbrittleâandâbreakâwhenâflexedâthroughâitsânormalârangeâofâmotion.â â Springâ steelsâ canâ beâ NitreBlueâ Bluedâ afterâ temperingâ (drawing)âifâaâspecificâcolorâisârequiredâtoâmatchâwithâtheâotherâpartsâofâaâgun.âRepolishâ theâ springâ andâ NitreBlueâ Blueâ toâ theâ desiredâ colorâ alongâwithâtheâmatchingâparts.âTheâspringâwillânotâloseâorâchangeâitsâtem-perâifâitâsâbluedâatâaâlowerâtemperatureâthanâtheâoneâatâwhichâitâwasâtemperedâ(drawn).
076-200-362 R502 Š 2002 BROWNELLS, INC. Page 9 of �2
CARBON STEEL HEAT TREATING Colors vary slightly with steel analysis and length of time held at temperature. For details see GUNSMITH KINKSÂŽ I.
TEMPER COLORS Degrees Hardness Color F. Hardness Rockwell âCâ Faint Yellow ďż˝20 Extra File Hard 63 Light Straw ďż˝35 File Hard 62 Dark Straw ďż˝65 Knife Hard 60 Yellow-Brown ďż˝90 Extra Hard 58 Purple 520 Hard 56 Dark Blue 570 Half Hard 53 Blue Gray 620 Spring Temper 50
BrownellsNitreBlue⢠BLUING SALTS
Gorgeous âFire Blueâ Colors & No- Scale Tempering A Master Metal Finisherâs Secret, Useable In Any Shop
â â Turnâpartsâandâsmallâpiecesâaâdeep,ârich,âlustrousâblueâwithâaâfinishâthatâsâtougherâandâprettierâthanâmostâofâtheâcoldâblues.âTheâprocessâisâreallyâquiteâsimple:âHeatâtheâsaltsâupâtoâ570°F.â-â650°â F.â(TheyâareâNOTâdissolvedâinâwater,âtheyâreâusedâstraight).âDipâtheâpartsâin,âwatchâforâtheâcolorâchange.âLowerâtemperaturesâgiveâaâ
âstrawââcolorâlikeâtheâolderâLugerâparts.âAsâanâaddedâbonus,âtheâsaltsâcanâbeâusedâforâtheâdrawingâoperationâwhenâheat-treatingâspringsâandâparts.SPECS: 20 lb. (9.1kg) in plastic, resealable plastic pail. 1 lb. of salts will take up ap-proximately 15 cubic in. (245 cubic cm).#082-090-020 *NitreBlue Bluing Salts 2H00AYBâ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 41.09
*Requires Additional Hazardous Materials Surcharge
Brownellsâ QUARTER TANKSpecially For NitreBlue⢠Bluing
Perfect For Small Parts Hot Bluing
â â JustâtheârightâsizeâforâNitreBlueâBluingâofâhandgunâbarrels,âframes,âslides,âcylindersâandâallâtheâsmallâpartsâthatâgoâwithâthem.âHoldsâaboutâ17âlbs.âofâourâNitreBlueâBluingâSaltsâor,âholdsâ1âgallonâofâOxynateâNo.â7â˘âandâOxynateâNo.â84â˘âsolutionsâforâbluingâhandgunsâoneâatâaâtime.SPECS: Black iron. 6" (15.2cm) x 6"x 10" (25.4cm). Welded seams, rolled edges. Holds 1 gallon of solution.#082-003-661 Quarter Tank 2H00TPUâ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 26.39
Page �0 of �2 Š 2002 BROWNELLS, INC. 076-200-362 R502
Orders: 800-741-0015 www.brownells.comFax: 641 623 3896 Office: 641-623-5401
200 SOUTH FRONT STREET MONTEZUMA, IA 50171
Page �2 of �2 Š 2002 BROWNELLS, INC. 076-200-362 R502
NitreBlueâ˘
STEP-BY-STEP BLUING PROCEDURE
1
CLEAN AND DEGREASE ALL PARTS to remove all dirt, grease oil and crud to keep contaminants out of the Bluing bath.
THOROUGHLY DRY ALL PARTS even the most minute amount of water will flash to steam in the super-heated NitreBlue Bluing Bath and can cause dangerous eruptions of molten Bluing Bath.
IMMERSE PARTS IN THE BLUING BATH within a maximum of 2 hours after polishing/cleaning. Typical Operating Temperature: 600° F. to 650° F. Typical Time in Bluing Bath: 5 minutes for small parts; 10 minutes for larger parts. Color of part determines when to remove.
REMOVE PART AND QUENCH OR AIR COOL when color wanted is reached. Check carefully under bright incandescent light; do not use fluorescent bulb.
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RINSE AND SCRUB PARTS IN HOT WATER TO REMOVE RESIDUE in Hot Water Tank. Scrub thoroughly to dissolve all âdragged-outâ Bluing Bath.
SUSPEND IN WATER DISPLACING OIL. Transfer parts quickly to Water Displacing Oil Tank and plunge into tank, agitating vigorously for a minute or so. Allow parts to cool while immersed in the Water Displacing Oil. Use full strength. Operating Temperature: room temperature; recommend 68° F. min. to 90° F. max. DO NOT HEAT OIL. Immersion Time: until parts are cool; typi-cally 45-60 minutes to allow maximum displacement of entrapped water.
âCUREâ BLUING AND REASSEMBLE GUN. Remove from Water Displacing Oil Tank, and hang on rack over tank to allow excess Oil to drain back into tank. Allow to cure at least overnight. When cured, wipe excess oil off parts with soft cloth and reassemble gun.