A Beginner's Guide to Using Gun Blue on Axe Heads

[@denvergriffin5555]

This method has worked like a charm for me on a half dozen vintage, formerly rusted and pitted heads. Key is doing the elbow grease to get to bare, clean steel at the start. I do what people who clean bike chains do - soak it in mineral spirits, then denatured alcohol, with clean gloves to avoid fingerprints - even your skin oil will interfere with bluing more than you'd imagine. I've had equally good results with the liquid Super Blue as with the paste - both work great on either "wall hanger" polish jobs or "field surface" jobs for working tools.

[@longlimboy]

first gun bluing video that's made me confident enough to try, thank you

[@longrider42]

I use Birchwood Casey's Perma Blue liquid. It works well. And yes I heat up the metal I'm blueing. And rinse with the hottest water that comes out of your tap. I started using this method way back in the 80's. I now use Perma Blue Liquid on axe heads. Works well.

[@johnclarke6647]

I am a gunsmith. Ran a firearms company for over 30 years. You are correct, you need to remove all grease from any metal before bluing. I found Brownells cold bluing gave me the best finish, but for the best finish I used caustic blue. I could replicate old Winchester rust bluing, so they told me.

[@bobmcwilliams4416]

Love your play by play! Never a dull moment!

[@Stormcloakvictory]

The oiling is what really does it. It both gives that nice deep black look but it's also what protects the axe. Blueing on itself actually does next to nothing in terms of rust prevention, it's the oil. Forgot which channel but he did a test with all the bluing methods, chemical cold blueing, hot blueing, rust blueing. And untreated. And found them to do little other than masqading further oxidation and perhaps holding oil slightly better than bare metal. But all the rust protection was just in the oil which was traditionally applied after every blueing. I still absolutely love blueing as it looks amazing in person. The feel, it's just different.

[@fordguyfordguy]

Executive Summary was excellent!!! I wish everyone would do this.

[@robertgilkerson8517]

I've never tried the paste, I have had decent results with the super blue liquid. Thanks for the info.

[@rebelyell2741]

I used this stuff 30 years ago to to a barrel that still looks fantastic. The bluing turned to a smooth, mirror finish brown over time. I rub it with a old clean wool sock to keep the shine.

[@turtlewolfpack6061]

My favorite for removing most rust is a vinegar and salt bath. I have a gunsmith friend who does hot blueing and other fellow I know does parkerizing, although I haven't gotten an axe or tomahawk done by them Ive often thought of it. Also, maybe you aren't old enough to remember, but the school buses used to have a small fire axe as part of their safety gear. Those little axes are pretty hard to come by these days but if you can find one they are a neat addition to any collection. I have two, one with a spike and one without.

[@BushcraftSisyphus]

School bus safety axe! No, you don't see many of them around.

[@turtlewolfpack6061]

@@BushcraftSisyphus the temper is not the best but they are really cool.

[@J_ismyname48]

Get you some Brownells Oxpho Blue and you will throw that super blue in the trash! Used together with their browning solution before bluing, you will end up with a deeper, richer blue that actually will protect more like a hot bluing. Great video as always 👍👍👍

[@the_sharp_carpenter]

Great video, I too have found the warmer the better, gonna have to do the freezer combo now 👍

[@richkeagy8907]

I have used a hair dryer to heat up an axe head. Works great. You don't have to dry it off afterwards.

[@jawsua32]

I scuffed the head of an axe when filing sharpening it. Would you advise going through this whole process of can I do just a bit of a touch up with gun blue and used motor oil?

[@davidcooke8825]

Appreciate the bonus footage. A nice touch.

[@BushcraftSisyphus]

A little bonus for the faithful! Gives a nice look.

[@vairboy]

Great tutorial, thanks! Going to give this a try soon.

[@GiantPinhead]

Outstanding and timely. "No gun bluing comments" OK - but here's one anyway: surface prep is EVERYTHING and requires the highest level of skill, which is why best quality work is terribly expensive and a vanishing art. Also, great tip on the motor oil which is how the Brits field darkened their wartime firearms. Heat, dunk, reheat, redunk. Same same. Dirtier oil makes darker finishes.

[@GiantPinhead]

PS - the heat and oil trick works great for restoring period household "hardware" like door, cabinet, and window sets.

[@swellcat66]

@@GiantPinhead: How hot does steel need to get in order to take color from used motor oil? Examples on here are showing temper-wrecking levels of heat using torches and forges.

[@jastimbal60]

I love axes! Love your channel! I'm a new subscriber. I've been using gun blue for awhile now and I really like what it does to the axe heads. Very cool and interesting video thanks for sharing!

[@BushcraftSisyphus]

Thank you! Try it out!

[@johnclarke6647]

Everything that is done right is time intensive. I used EvapoRust on my about 200 year old broad axe. I scrubbed it with BRILLO, afterwards. I left my broad axe in EvapoRust for a total of 48 hours, scrubbing it with BRILLO, after 24 hours.

[@paulprice5202]

Does the bluing scratch off with use? Is it a durable finish?

[@rifleman7313]

Good demonstration, I think that if you wanted a darker black you could use the birch casey super blue instead of the perma blue. Just a thought. Also I found it interesting when you froze the axes and the motor oil application.

[@lukasking2573]

Tipp. Apply the paste with a finger or two directly, wearing the thin rubber gloves. So you don't lose paste in the pad and everything is more evenly distributed.

[@BestKCL]

Guys, MAKE SURE YOU USE THE RIGHT MATERIAL OF GLOVES. It will eat right through some common ones.

[@lukasking2573]

@@BestKCL just use good quality ones

[@12b_engineer]

In your experience how does the blue hold up to actual use.

[@willybreen7950]

I missed this one, damn, learn something every time! Thanks bud!

[@larsvab3690]

170° F or C?

[@raulkaap]

I believe you have already found out but for others: 170F = 77C. You couldn't hold a 170C piece of metal. 77C feels like a hot (metal) cup of tea. Or freshly boiled (metal) potato.

[@johnsmith2502]

Awesome video and thank you for sharing. I've been looking everywhere to try and find something that will show me exactly what effect polishing will have on the blueing process and this has answered my question. I'm loving that black peril look as you described it. I would love to see the polished head done with the variable temperature method and more polishing as you mentioned.

[@justinmcada3555]

Great video Lane!

[@natmat8717]

Once again sir you've really outdone yourself. I needed some guidance on bluing axes and now I have it, thanks

[@novascotianinfj]

how about a sword?

[@benscottwoodchopper]

Gun bluing is something i have been interested in for a while, great video, the effect looks very good

[@zndr5111]

variable tempuratures at 170 degrees f or c?

[@kamvalkov]

Absolutely adore thus channel

[@Randysax1955]

Wondering if you have ever tried Brownell's Oxpho- Blue ? I've used it on various tools, firearms, and seem to get a truer - "harder" finish. Thanks for the great video !

[@stevenlaxton3618]

Is it a paste as well or is it more liquid?

[@Randysax1955]

@@stevenlaxton3618 Pretty sure it comes in both forms. I like the cream..sticks better.

[@mickd271]

So, how long do you leave it on for? I dont think it was actually mentioned

[@charlesfields7908]

Zenith made alot of products including single barrel carburetors.

[@martinkungys3279]

Need new motor oil. That stuff dark dark. Thank you for the bonus will do. Found my grandpas rusted hatchet head in his trunk. He died a couple years back and I just want to do the hatchet justice. It’s a late 40s German hatchet.

[@cabotbluegill]

thank you for doing this vid i just recently ask this question on Axe Hounds

[@foreverendeavors6210]

I like the zenith! Awsome video.

[@seff2318]

I’m very intrigued 🤔 What do ya think if did this with my basque axes? “Rub that shit in” haha

[@BushcraftSisyphus]

More research needed ;)

[@ricksspringfield45]

Thanks for sharing...Im going to try this. Subbed 👍

[@johnclarke6647]

You can always rust blue them. The formula is pretty easy. It will give you a better blue than cold blue. My motor oil never gets that black.

[@AshInTrees]

Great video, I'll use this multi-temp method on an old Kelly hand made I picked up.

[@johnclarke6647]

You have to polish any metal you want to blue. The better the polish, the better the blue. Steel wool has oil on it. You must degrease it before using.

[@lukenorov]

❤

[@feralgrandad4429]

Newbie question, do you think using this technique on an Arvika would end up similar to the Zenith? Awesome video, thanks for sharing :-)

[@BushcraftSisyphus]

I've seen several people blue their Arvikas and it looks great.

[@johncorder2912]

Hope you don’t take this the wrong way but cleaning with break clean after cleaning with soap is like cleaning yourself with body wipes after taking a shower. Cleaning with an emulsifier is the ultimate degreaser. Cleaning with a solvent always leaves a residue. It may not have any effect on the final finish but solvent is no replacement for an emulsifier.

[@johncorder2912]

I have very much enjoyed your videos. I hope they continue to release in the future.

[@raulkaap]

@@johncorder2912 As a chemist, I agree. With both comments.

[@BK33REVIEWS]

Birchwood super blue liquid gets darker allot faster than that stuff to coats will do it

[@jeffreyrubish347]

That's the blueing I like best, too. Firearms are hot tank blued. The stuff like this is only used for touching up small scratches.

[@paulsprute329]

I would degrease the steel wool, just my 2cents

[@johnclarke6647]

If you want it blue, polish the hell out of it. If you want it black, leave it rough. Since I want my axes to have the hammered forge look. I leave them rough.

[@NoJoeThatsNotYou]

lol I wash my hands with brake cleaner

[@Mlpape]

oshawa ontario, thats where i am :)

[@gumwap1]

Acetone is a supreme degreaser

[@thomaslindroos1667]

Brakleen toxic!? Perhaps I shouldnt wash my greasy hands with it then

[@judylloyd7901]

*Pă'-tin-uh,* not "pah-teen'-uh" 😊

[@TheLexiconDevils]

“Bushcraft” yet you’re wasting money on commercial “rust removal” products 😂😂 Don’t you own any salt and vinegar

[@sharafatalifaizy5112]

lots of blahh blahhh.......