Color Case Restoration

[@Tony-c9b]

I just saved your website to my favourites list. Astonishing content and you are so generous with sharing your knowledge/techniques. Thank you. I don’t understand why you don’t have more “likes” at this time! Kindest regards.

[@SixRoundsStudio]

@@Tony-c9b Appreciate it Tony. KZbin is a tough game by any standard. Love to share the work, so will be happy to slug away at it if we can keep the old school crafts alive and in the public eye.

[@jeffbush4461]

Bill, Considering the difficulty and expense that is incurred with traditional color case hardening, this process looks like an interesting and much more cost effective alternative in replicating that look. Thanks again for another informative lesson! JB

[@SixRoundsStudio]

Yes. I am restoring an old Stevens Favorite which was originally color cased. I plan to do this again on that gun. Each time I hope to get better and more realistic.

[@lpfnh61]

Nice video, Bill; you do a good job with documenting and explaining what you do, why, and how.

[@SixRoundsStudio]

Thank you! I have had a lot of training and experience as a job and task trainer and did this for Ruger Firearms and others for years. Plus...I'm just a big ham :)

[@kbjerke]

Better living through Chemistry, Bill! I've toyed with similar substances while at The Guild. I think you'll me most pleasantly surprised with your final product!

[@SixRoundsStudio]

Welp....we're about to try the real deal.

[@225cannon]

Which products did you use and how much? Did you buy the kit or individual patinas? I think it looks great. Coincidentally I have a basket case ithaca I will try to use it on. Thanks for sharing this.

[@SixRoundsStudio]

If you watch the latest full length video Blue Jelly I tell who the company is. You can go to the website and chose the quantity and colors you want to use. This was not a sponsored video...I just found his website, bought the chemical I thought would be best by reading and watching his videos.

[@craigledwon22]

Hey Bill, great video. Just baught an old sxs that had case color and I’m wondering if there is anything out there to enhance the old colors? Not looking to remove old color just looking to refresh it. Thanks

[@SixRoundsStudio]

Hi Craig. Not that I am aware of. Color case tends to fade over time especially if it is exposed to a lot of light (not to mention being held by human hands). Most of the well used firearms with original color case finish that come through the shop have extensive fading. Most folks don't realize that that "color" and the case hardening is only a couple of mills to .010 deep.

[@docbob6897]

FWIW my best results were with combinations of blue halo and torch. I look forward to your conclusions!

[@SixRoundsStudio]

Thanks Doc...Those colors were the ones I was looing at too from the samples.

[@win1885]

Terms are confusing. Old guns were case hardened. The beautiful colors were the result of that process. Newer guns are case colored, which is what you are doing.

[@SixRoundsStudio]

Agreed...I explained this in the vid. I am not pretending to do anything other than faux coloring the steel.

[@johnrichner826]

Would the metallurgy make a difference? 4140 vs 1018?

[@SixRoundsStudio]

Hi John. Not sure the question. For real color case or the gel chemical? If you get a chance to watch the next video in the series, I add the gel to the actual receiver of the shotgun and it did color different than the steel bar that I experimented on. most modern guns use a 4140 and someday in the future I want to try and color a modern receiver. It will be interesting to see if there is a color difference.

[@waitfortheflash6286]

I've used this product. Managed to get a pretty decent pattern/look after a few tries. The problem is, the finish has all the durability of wet tissue paper. This was in the summer/fall of 2020. Perhaps they've improved their product since then.

[@SixRoundsStudio]

This has been a concern for me as well. So far it is holding up well.

[@waitfortheflash6286]

@@SixRoundsStudio That's good to hear. I haven't seen much about SteelFx since I first ised the product. It did show a lot of promise, aside from the durability issues I encountered. Maybe I screwed up somehow. It's been known to happen.

[@stephenhotzjustdriveit]

Very cool

[@SixRoundsStudio]

Thanks Stephen

[@rollerco]

Looks like crap. Only color case hardening looks like color case hardening.

[@SixRoundsStudio]

Well....thank you for your opinion rollerco. We need more folks just like you. Speak your mind brother. Make sure the world knows that the only opinion that matters is yours. Oh...should it matter to you...the better approach might have been. "This would not be my choice...I think the real thing will always be best". To which I would have responded. "Your definitely correct...but trying to honor the firearm and pocket books of the owners...this is a reasonable next choice. And rolerco...if this is the best you can behave...rather you not come back.