what to use to chemically remove bluing?

[mozeppa]

got 33 pieces that need stripped of bluing...red vinegar?

[Winger Ed.]

Probably anything that's acidic will.

I wanted to clean some rust off a barrel one time and reached for some well diluted HCL (Hydrochloric acid)
that ya can get any where they sell basic swimming pool supplies-- like Home Depot.

Along with the rust- it ripped the bluing off as fast you see on the TV commercial
where they dip a old Silver spoon in the glass of their stuff.

[Texas by God]

Birchwood- Casey Bluing Remover

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[redhawk0]

I agree with TbG....I use Birchwood-Casey Blue Remover as well. Its worked fine for me.

redhawk

[fast ronnie]

Muratic acid for swimming pools works instantly. Wipe it on and wipe the bluing off. It is just that fast, and does a great job.

[jdfoxinc]

Evap-o-rust

[TCLouis]

Naval Jelly . . . . If they still sell it!

[mozeppa]

thanks team!

[gwpercle]

Naval Jelly will do it ... even when you don't mean to remove the blue ...but I would use the Birchwood Casey Bluing Remover .

[LAGS]

White vinegar.
If you add Hydrogen peroxide to it it works even faster.
Or water diluted Muratic Acid.
I use both for taking off bluing and Rust.
Naval Jelly is what I use to use and is great if you need to work on a spot and not the whole part because it is thicker.
Cheapest and most available is the vinegar.
For doing barrels , I just put a cap on one end of PVC pipe and stand it up in a bucket of dirt, then let the barrel soak overnight.

[Gtek]

Plug the bore!

[Bantou]

Ultrasonic cleaning will rip it off in a hurry. Im going to have to re-blue a couple of sets of mold handles because I tried US cleaning on the blocks with the handles still attached.


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[Hick]

What LAGS said-- white vinegar. It takes a little time (30 min or so) but does not attack the metal, or your fingers, or the wood

[JWFilips]

White vinegar.

Cheapest and most available is the vinegar.
For doing barrels , I just put a cap on one end of PVC pipe and stand it up in a bucket of dirt, then let the barrel soak overnight.

This has been an old Gunsmiths go to! I agree

[M-Tecs]

Ultrasonic cleaning will rip it off in a hurry. Im going to have to re-blue a couple of sets of mold handles because I tried US cleaning on the blocks with the handles still attached.


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That would be the solution you used. Ultrasonic cleans have been a mainstay for gunsmiths and LE departments for years. Ultrasonics itself can't harm gun bluing. Been using them on blued parts since the mid-80's.

[Bantou]

Good to know. My solution was a home made solution of vinegar, water, dawn, and lemishine.


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[M-Tecs]

Some basics here https://www.brownells.com/aspx/learn...aspx?lid=10702

I use a commercial cleaning solvent. A lot of the ultrasonic solvent are for brass cleaning and not recommended for firearms.

[LAGS]

I guess I am an Old Gunsmith.
But I learned it from watching my Grandfather re blue guns when I was a kid.
He was an Old Gunsmith Too

[flint45]

I spilled some orange juice on a gun once the bluing came right off the spot were it spilled.

[LAGS]

Any Acid will remove Bluing.
Or Rust for that matter.
Citric acid works slower than Vinagar , and a lot slower than Muratic or Hydrochloric acid.
But they are still all acids.
And bluing in fact , is Rust.
You just don't want an acid strong enough to Etch the metal.
Straight Muratic acid or Hydrochloric acid will do that.
But Citric acid or Vinager will remove Bluing or rust , without etching the metal.
Use Ammonia to remove Copper fouling in the bore.
But don't let it soak overnight , unless the bore is less than Perfect.
It will loosen lead too , but not Remove it