Blueing..Any American cousins in?

[sylus]

I ask for Americans as the process is normally associated with guns unless others have gun experience?

I noticed that some steel and stainless steel guns have had the blueing efefct which not only gives it that bluey mettalic but matt finish but also gives the metal some anti rust capabilities.

Has anyone ever tried/failed/succeeded in blueing a steel frame ? I'm thinking more my bear valley se but would like to hear from anyone who has attempted blueing

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluing_(steel)

 

[marin man]

I have a man who blues my watch and clock hands for me in my antiques shop......problem is the oil dip he uses is a very small container and a frame is wayyyyyy to big......I have never seen anything bigger than gun parts blued before :?

 

[BoyBurning]

I've used cold blueing quite a lot on old car parts.

I've also used it to touch up chips on one of my frames (similar blue colour) - however, nothing like a whole frame.

It is pretty resistant, but quite tricky to get an even finish. If you apply too much it leaches and can dry patchy.

Whether you could to a whole frame through hot blueing I imagine would depend more on your wallet...

BB

 

[FairfaxPat]

The trouble with blueing is that it wears/rubs off after awhile, at least it does on some of my guns, especially my pistols, going in and out of their holsters. I wouldn't think it would be very good or last that long on a bike.

 

[mikee]

chemical blackening is quite common but in the sort of enviroment
a bike will be used in its a bit err rubbish
its okay for tools and the like where oil can be liberally applied

but blueing steel is usually done to temper it after hardening
dunno what effect it would have on a bike frame ,it may just anneal it
were talking 200 deg C here

try a heat treatment company they will have the equipment to handle
something as large as a bike frame ,but weather they'll take the job on
is another matter

 

[dubscratcher]

I've used cold blueing paste before, it's ok for touching up but I think it would be difficult to get a nice even finish with it, although the streaks could be part of the appeal. I'd also agree that blueing wouldn't be up to the job, guns generally get cleaned and oiled everytime they're used, to a degree that would be very time consuming for a bike. You could blue it then spray it with clearcoat if you want the streaked effect but if you want the shiny flat blued look you'd probably be better off talking to a good painter about tinted laquers. If you want to try to blue it, you could always just do the forks and see how it looks and lasts before commiting the frame. Good luck.

 

[walshy69]

Hi,

currently blueing my first bike build, frame and forks, didn't go the full hog on the bluing, stopped on about 6 coats, meant to use about 8-10 for a gun according to instructions, but very impresssed so far with the finish, hard for pics to do justice, but it looks very similar to the ti frame posts in this forum I've just been looking at.
I've contacted the blueing liquid manufacturers to see what they think about longevity of the finish, but I dont think it will withstand much riding so will be using acrylic clear coat to protect mine.
In terms of application, it's very easy to use, the bottle is only 90ml but i haven't even used half in covering frame and forks. If you want to really blue your frame then from what i've researched, you need to have your metal hot blued, not cold blued, guess its the same as rattle can spraying your frame as opposed to proper spray job with oven finish.

good luck if you intend to blue your bike, you can only blue steel if you dodn't already know that, you can follow my progress here http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=132524
and make your own decision, but so far I'm very pleased i've tried it

 

[sylus]

Thanks for the input all, I must admit to not haveing seen your blueing post walshy so thanks for the link

 

[dyna-ti]

Isn't this stuff horrendously poisonous :? :?