Brass Black, Cold Blueing and Wood Staining | Let's Build a CVA Hawken Part 8 | I Love Muzzleloading

[@georgerobartes2008]

I used a 17th century recipe for oil staining on what was considered a secondary wood for 17th century gunstocks when building a snaphance carbine and pistols back in the 90s . The recipe is from a treatise on gunmaking in the British Library and is simple and cheap . Alkanet root and burnt umber earth in linseed and turpentine . I found the alkanet root in an asian supermarket as 'Alkanjot' by Natco I believe , and used the burnt umber from my artist oil paints , but both are inexpensive to buy outright , probably cheaper than a tin of modern stain and both historically and currently correct for a gunmakers oil stain . Grind the root to a powder if not already powdered . This is a strong red dye which you tone down with the brown of the burnt umber to taste . The artists burnt umber has linseed already in the mix . Apply the first coat well thinned with turps . The result on very pale beech afted a few apps was a walnut colour and tough finish . I guess you could substitute turps for citrus oil if the odour of turps is too much or even naptha ( lighter fluid ) for faster results .

[@joehuber9168]

Great job on your CVA looks wonderful 👍👌🔥

[@Blackpowderdad]

Ahahah omg so funny! I just stained my hawken stock this morning and put 3 coats of true oil on after lunch! It’s been fun building mine at the same time as you’ve been building yours.

[@jackblackpowderprepper4940]

Ethan if you use Birchwood Casey's cold blue it will black out your brass. On polished brass it gives a sweet transparency on the brass, a nice shine. On some of mine I antique the brass first and it gives it a flater oxidation look that works back nice. Beautiful rifle you got going on. I finally finished my T/C Hawken and have several videos published on it. I used the cold blue on all the brass and trimed it out with copper. Red stalk of course.

[@johndally7994]

Looks great, Ethan! I learned a lot from this video. FWIW, heating the metal up with a heat gun before applying the bluing seems to deepen the finish.

[@swamprat9018]

you really need to try Mark Lee no. 3 rust bluing. do a rifle with the real rust preventive rusting. I knocked it back with pillow ticking instead of steel wool. I've done the boil water in a piple to get the blue and I left it brown on one to to say I browned a gun. try it you might like it.

[@jackmrozinski337]

Thank you

[@johnmuffy2848]

Hey! That combination looks good! I love your look on your rifles.Cannot wait untill you fire it. You can get a rear sight from Track of the Wolf. The small one is the one you need. I do miss the Floof. The Hawken barrels were first browned, then when the finish was set, they were heated to get them blued. I love Hawkens, the way they carry, the way they look, the way they balance. Well done.

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

Thank you! I’ll have to try that

[@wadehampe3253]

love the build and the information. When will we have a video putting it together and shooting the finished product?

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

We will have final assembly, but as this isn't mine, I won't be shooting. I have offered to help the owner get started, so we may see this again. Final video will be out next week.

[@donniegombel]

Where you dont blue you must remember that it will rust from moisture in the air. Ask me how i know. I thougt being in the wood it would be safe and over many years i would end up with a nice rust blue patina. Had i lived in the desert it might have worked out. The super high humidity of the deep south nailed me.

[@thomasgray9827]

Wool swabs from tandy are much better that ear swabs. Also to patina brass, pour an ounce of raw apple cider vinegar and a pinch table salt in a sealable container. Place cleaned brass parts on a wire tray cut to fit the container and place lid on to seal. Leave for 2 or 3 hours. Perfect patina in true color. Not black brass.

[@thomasgray9827]

Forgot to mention, the wire tray keeps the parts out of the solution. The patina comes from the gates coming off the salted vinegar. Repeat as needed to achieve color depth.

[@flushot6513]

Wonder if ya did a burn look with torch

[@Bayan1905]

I can tell you after having done my CVA Mountain Rifle in the Brownell's Oxpho Blue, after a year or so and a lot of shooting and cleaning, the blueing is now more of a grey than anything else. I think I am going to redo the gun once hunting season is over and try to let the gun sit longer. It's not bad looking if you want the aged look, but if you want to keep a darker gun, than maybe the Oxpho Blue isn't the best.

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

My Kibler did the same thing, I figure the constant cleaning of BP wears through fast.

[@Bayan1905]

@@ILoveMuzzleloading have you ever tried Birchwood Casey Plum Brown? I want to try that next I think but I want to see if anyone else has ever had any results with it.

[@ILoveMuzzleloading]

I've not but I hear good things.

[@timsmith9169]

Plug Tabasco soaked in amonia for 6 months, then strained then used

[@Strutingeagle]

Ethan Ethan Ethan!!!! You don't lay your cleaned parts on a dirty workbench. Don't try and blame the chemicals for your faux pas.