Traditional Muzzleloading Association

Craftsmanship => Gun Building and Repair => Topic started by: dennyhawk on January 09, 2009, 01:58:52 PM

Title: Browning?
Post by: dennyhawk on January 09, 2009, 01:58:52 PM

Gonna have some spare time on my hands after the Jan. antler-less season is over here in Iowa, and I was wondering just how tough it would be to remove the blueing that is on my GPR, and brown it?? I'd like to also do the same with my Lyman Plains pistol, and remove all the ugly writing on it as well.
Ideas anyone???

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Post by: nessy357 on January 09, 2009, 02:12:01 PM

I have browned a number of barrels using Laurel Mountain forge browning solution. It is very simple and easy to use.
I normally draw file the barrels using fine emery cloth until its smooth and shiny.
Then follow the LMF  instructions .
My son and I are going to brown his barrel pretty quick, how about if I post a couple of pics in progress ?

Cheers Bob.

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Post by: melsdad on January 09, 2009, 08:13:24 PM

Quote from: "nessy357"

how about if I post a couple of pics in progress ?

That would be great! I have often thought about doing this to my Lyman Trade rifle.

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Post by: nessy357 on January 09, 2009, 11:36:50 PM

We're going to start on his rifle on Wed.
I've got a pistol that i want brown also, will post pics.
Cheers Bob.

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Post by: Wyoming Mike on January 10, 2009, 08:16:03 AM

Blueing comes of pretty easily with Naval Jelly that can be picked up at any hardware store.

If you use a fine cut draw file to remove the stampings you should not have to do much else prior to browning.  When I am building a rifle I don't go any further than using a fine cut draw file to finish the barrel.   Just be careful with the file and not leave any file marks.  If the barrel is too highly polished the browning doesn't seem to take as fast.  When the barrel is cleaned up after browning it doesn't look any different than if you polished it with emory cloth.

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Post by: Captchee on January 10, 2009, 02:10:10 PM

browning is nothing but rusting , any rusting agent will produce a brown . just remove the  blue  as wyoming Mike stated or you can also do it with a light sand paper block

 LM can  at time be a bear  to work with . so read the derections  and follow them or you will end up with something other then what you think you want .

 myself , i dont use LM anymore and have reverted to my own processes  or just  using a damp box

Title: Browning?
Post by: nessy357 on January 20, 2009, 02:56:47 PM

Took some pics of my son Paul browning his barrel with LMF.
It is very critical when applying, to use a light /even pressure, any heavy pressure  or rubbing , with come out darker.
I thought it might be important to show the size of the patch he used, the patch has been doubled over,and wetted through both of them.So that when you are drawing it from one end of the barrel to the other , you will have enough solution on it and not have to stop and restart.

The instructions say to apply a coat every 3 hrs then scrub with denim and hot water,helps to even out browning.(the exception is no scrubbing between the 1st and 2nd coat)
This pic shows 3hrs after the first coat, it looks a greeny black colour.
 
This is 3 hrs after the 2nd coat

3hrs after the 3rd coat.
 Will post more as it progresses.
Cheers Bob

Title: Browning?
Post by: nessy357 on January 22, 2009, 03:26:22 PM

After the 5th coat, the barrel was scrubbed again with denim and hot water, left for a day, then scrubbed with a solution of baking soda and water, to neutralise the rusting process.
When it was dry, the barrel was hand rubbed with tung oil to seal it.The trick is not to get too much tung oil on it, it shouldn't look shiny after you apply it.

Cheers Bob.

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Post by: nessy357 on January 30, 2009, 05:43:34 PM

Here's a pic of the Hoppes pistol I just finished. Gonna let the grandkids shoot this one.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v309/nessy357/2browingpistol.jpg)

Cheers Bob.

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Post by: Indiana on January 30, 2009, 07:24:48 PM

Do you have any history behind that pistol design?  That's a really really cool looking pistol.  I've never seen one like that before.

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Post by: nessy357 on January 30, 2009, 07:41:44 PM

Sorry Indiana, all it says on the barrel is "Ethan Allen ", & Hoppes.
It fits the grandkids hands, so I thought it would be a good starter for them.
Cheers Bob.

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Post by: melsdad on January 30, 2009, 08:19:52 PM

Thanks for the pictures on the browning process.

Title: Browning?
Post by: nessy357 on February 01, 2009, 02:33:25 PM

You're quite welcome sir, I've done a number of rifles, but the one that sticks out,  was a Thompson Center, that I had put on a set of California sights like these .


Totally changed the look on that rifle.


Cheers Bob.

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Post by: david32cal on February 01, 2009, 03:15:07 PM

very nice job. the one and only time i tried to brown a barrel all i ended up with was scales of rust,dont know what i did wrong,followed the instructions to the letter.

Title: Browning
Post by: greyhunter on February 01, 2009, 08:22:50 PM

Must have been a good day for browning. Finally got around to doing mine today.[albumimg:50uo9ogc]3637[/albumimg:50uo9ogc] GPR

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Post by: nessy357 on February 01, 2009, 10:25:36 PM

Very nice ! IMHO that's how I like 'em , nice job on the stock also!
Cheers Bob.