This brings us to the first of several reasons why we advise against using bluing on coloured clothes: If using a washing machine, choose a setting with a second rinse cycle—the bluing is added to the first, and then the excess is rinsed away in the second. The slide is now stained with a nuclear stain such as Harris hematoxylin, which consists of a dye (oxidized hematoxylin or hematein) and a mordant or binding agent (an aluminum salt) in the solution. Initially this stains the nuclei and some other elements a reddish-purple color. Complete the Nuclear Stain by “Blueing” If you’re into a gun’s thing, you might have heard the term bluing before. Different forms of bluing have been used by gunsmiths and gun enthusiasts for centuries now to protect guns from wear and damage, but you might still be wondering what gun bluing is. Front loaders: For front-loading machines, add as much diluted bluing to the dispenser drawer as possible after your washer has filled with water. This ensures that the blueing is released during the rinse cycle rather than the wash cycle.

It’s traditionally used to enhance the whiteness of fabrics and counteract the yellowing or greyish tinge that can develop over time in light-coloured clothing. Gun bluing is more of a rust makeover than a rust shield. To truly protect your firearm, regular cleaning and oiling are essential. Bluing is the makeup that enhances your gun’s beauty, but maintenance is the skincare routine that keeps it healthy. Can I Blue a Gun at Home? Bluing reagents, such as Scott's Tap Water, are used to change the hematoxylin from red to the traditional blue color we expect. These slightly basic solutions chemically alter the dye to produce this color change. In some locations, the tap water contains enough minerals so that the pH causes the water to be basic enough to allow for the bluing of nuclei without the need for a bluing specific reagent. In most cases, though, labs typically add this step to ensure appropriate bluing. Hot bluing is a complex process which involves metal parts being placed in a mixture of chemicals (typically potassium nitrate, sodium hydroxide and water) which is then heated to around 150°C.The bluing process is often accelerated and intensified with the utility of heat. All items become more elastic and smooth to change when they are heated. If you’re looking to reap many of the benefits attributed to hot bluing but don’t want to deal with chemical baths and a high price tag, cold bluing is the perfect, simple alternative. The following table contains a protocol with a simple regressive stain that provides a nice balance of nuclear and cytoplasmic stains. This protocol is designed with a mild acid differentiator in mind. Immersion in Coals: Place the cleaned gun parts onto the bed of hot coals. Allow them to heat until they achieve the desired color change.

Follow dilution instructions – Bluing should always be diluted according to the instructions. Adding too much can lead to over-bluing, uneven results, and unsightly streaks. Most smiths know about these hot bluing methods, and you may ask a local smith that specializes in bluing to do it for you. Although, you will likely have to disassemble non-steel parts on your own. How to Cold Blue Stainless Steel These processes were later abandoned by major firearm manufacturers as it often took parts days to finish completely, and was very labor-intensive. They are still sometimes used by gunsmiths to obtain an authentic finish for a period gun of the time that rust bluing was in vogue, analogous to the use of browning on earlier representative firearm replicas. Rust bluing is also used on shotgun barrels that are soldered to the rib between the barrels, as hot bluing solutions melt the solder during the bluing process. Rust bluing was developed between hot and cold bluing processes, and was originally used by gunsmiths in the 19th century to blue firearms prior to the development of hot bluing processes. The process was to coat the gun parts in an acid solution, let the parts rust uniformly, then immerse the parts in boiling water to convert the red oxide FeUsing laundry bluing is simple: dilute the dye and add it to your rinse cycle. However, adding too much or overusing laundry bluing can cause damage or colour alteration. Rotate the parts through the cold water to wash off the bluing salts. Leave to air dry for 3 minutes. Step #5 Boiling The Cold processes produce a similar color, but the coating tends to rub off more easily and offer less abrasion resistance. The application of oil, wax, or lacquer will bring the corrosion resistance up to par with the heated processes. Before we get to the procedure of bluing stainless steel, it’s important to mention all the necessary equipment.