Best touch up blue

[Grelber]

Would have posted in gun smithing but I thought it was a general interest thing.

Anyway local gun store & else where sell different brands of touch up blue & sells it in the bottle & pen form.

Anybody have a "this works best"?

 

[jinks]

Brownell's cold bluing solutions work well. I am currently using Oxpho Blue but T4 and Formula 44/40 are very good too.

https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-...bluing/liquid-cold-bluing-chemicals/index.htm

 

[gmcttr]

I've used Formula 44/40 for decades with good results. Have recently played with Oxpho Blue and like it as well.

 

[Grelber]

Thanks guys. As fate would have it, the brand I tried is rated 1.5 (the worst) out of 5 on the Brownell's link and your brands are 4.5 - 4.6.

 

[Hkindiana]

I gave used Vans gun blue for decades with perfect results, and it doesn't have the typical "cold blue smell".

 

[AMMO USER]

same here, Vans

 

[sloughfoot]

I like the oxpho blue from www.brownells.com

 

[Drail]

The whole trick to getting good results with cold blue is 1) you must THOROUGHLY degrease the metal. Use acetone or lacquer thinner. 2) warm the metal just until it's too warm to hold in your hand - a hairdryer works well. 3) some ultra fine Scotchbrite or OOOO steel wool between applications to lightly "card off" the surface oxidation. But be aware that cold blue is very thin, very soft and will wear off in a few days on a gun that is handled a lot. I can cold blue a gun well enough it looks like a nice hot blue job - but it will not hold up. It also offers no protection from corrosion to the steel. I have used Brownells Oxpho blue for many years and it is about as good as it gets. But it's still just cold blue. Cold blue also makes your gun smell just like an old penny.

 

[Mongo59]

Have you tried the Blue Wonder line of products? They have both the gun blue and the gun black. Very easy to use. No need to steel wool between applications. Their gun cleaner is all that and a bag of chips. The cleaner with steel wool will take off rust and not harm the blue (and I mean not a scratch). The same stuff with a Scotch Bright pad will take off all the blue and leave bright metal.

 

[hans1911]

I use Vans, as well as Brownells Oxpho Blue and 44/40. Depending on the steel, I’ve found some work much better than the others.

 

[indianamoon]

Finally gave up on cold blue and have a problem finding someone to do a nice rust blue, so been having Belcher's Cerakote firearms a bunch.