Bluing Services

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 Hot caustic bluing is a technique that involves immersing steel parts in a boiling solution of potassium nitrate, sodium hydroxide, and water to prevent corrosion and protect the metal from rust and pollutants. The solution is heated to a temperature of 275–310 °F (135–154 °C), depending on the recipe. The process involves: 

1. Cleaning the steel 
2. Placing the steel in the treatment tank 
3. Boiling the water bath to remove bluing salts 
4. Applying an oil finishing bath 

The process turns red iron oxide (rust) into black iron oxide (Fe3O4), which gives the steel a blue-black color and a thin protective layer. Hot caustic bluing is the standard method for bluing guns because it's permanent and provides more protection than other methods, while also being faster 

 Rust bluing is a time-consuming process that creates a durable, rust-resistant finish on clean parts. The process involves: 

1. Coating the parts with a rust bluing solution 
2. Allowing the parts to rust 
3. Boiling the parts in clean water to convert the rust from ferrous oxide to ferric oxide 
4. Cleaning off the velvet 
5. Repeating the process until the desired blue-black color is achieved 

The result is a finish with a "softer" appearance. 

 Nitre bluing, also known as fire bluing, peacock bluing, or straw bluing, is a gun metal finishing process that creates vibrant blue colors on steel parts. The process involves immersing polished and cleaned steel in a bath of molten salts, usually potassium nitrate and sodium nitrate, that has been heated to a precise temperature. The salts may also contain manganese dioxide. The part is then removed from the pot and the crystallized salts are brushed off. The part is then placed back in the pot and watched for it to change color, which can happen in less than a minute. Nitre bluing works best on screws and pins because they are subject to less wear and movement. It can also be used to create accent pieces for firearm builds that use components treated by other processes. Nitre bluing is not always as durable as other bluing processes, but it can add a touch of class to small parts.