How to Rust Blue a Rifle Presented by Larry Potterfield | MidwayUSA Gunsmithing

Although slow rust bluing got its name because it's slow, it's a very simple process. Watch along as Larry Potterfield, Founder and CEO of MidwayUSA rust blues a Remington 700.
For this and other MidwayUSA videos visit the MidwayUSA Video Library:
www.midwayusa....

[@jacklucking691]

Mr. Potterfield is the best in the business.......wish I knew 10% of what he knows. Thank You for sharing.

[@Xydefall]

I would give anything to spend a day around Larry Potterfield. I am getting ready to open my own Gunsmithing Shop and I feel that even an 8 hour day around this genius would pay dividends in my life. Thanks for all you do Mr. Potterfield.

[@mr.iforgot3062]

I would NOT fart at all, if I could just spend an hour with Mr. Potterfield!

[@dubmasterz3261]

I agree. I wanna come too. Larry let’s make it happen. This was an awesome video.

[@oletom6970]

Mr. Potterfield is certainly seems a man who was born for his profession. Anyone blessed enough to spend learning time around would be a man to be envious of

[@michaelfuller2153]

Thanks, Larry...I always enjoy these presentations. I'm glad you warned about "spontaneous combustion"! I once moved some oily rags (boiled linseed oil) to a metal shed...in the summertime. I happened...Providentially... to check the shed before a Sunday nap. The smoldering rags had filled the shed with smoke...and ruined a cordless drill that I had left sitting on the rags! Lesson learned. Best to you...

[@CamelSmokes23]

I caught one of these oily rag fires in a construction site while working at a busy mall. The site would have gone up like a matchbox if I hadn't seen the smoke that had already entered the hallways. Luckily the fire was small, and easily put out by the fire department. The amount of smoke caused by a couple of rags was immense!

[@TheGunrunn3r]

Finally. A video that tells me what to do, not what NOT to do.

[@robertlombardo8437]

Isn't that just amazing? How much it changes the tone and how much more possible it makes the process seem?

[@betchalife]

Mr. Potterfied's shop is any amateur gunsmiths dream shop. Damn that upbeat safari - type whistley music really grew on me.

[@timothystewart5529]

Larry used "The Yellow Rose of Texas on his Nitre Bluing video. I even added the history behind the old Texas song. This music is a lot more appropriate for using the great Phil Pinkerton's Classic American Rust Bluing. Especially on the Classic old Griffin & Howe 1903 Springfield. As a matter of fact, the gun they liked to use best was called an NRA Sporter. Many of them were converted by Griffin & Howe into custom rifles. However, on the British Double Rifle the rust finish in Great Britain would be called Blacked. Or Black the Barrels. I have had a couple of these fine old Shotguns. My present one was a trade along with $1000. in gunsmithing. While we decided to leave the chambers at 2 1/2 inches, the forcing cones were lengthened, the Barrels were Blacked and the short length of pull was fixed with a leather covered with an old English Pachmayr recoil pad. Larry has a great video of how to do that as well. If you are in the market for a fine Springfield Rifle an original 1903 NRA Sporter would be a good choice. But you have to know what they look like. Col William S Brophy's The Springfield 1903 Rifles is to me the best. But anybody with a love of the finest firearms should have a copy of General Julian S. Hatcher's great Hatcher's Notebook in their library as well. A wealth of information, Hatcher was in charge of The Springfield Armory in Massachusetts during the golden age of the 03 Springfield. He also shares his personal notes and thoughts on various other subject. Anybody who is in pursuit of making a rifle accurate should have a copy. I worked the Gun Counter at Cabela's with the goal of working in their Gun Library. But I scared them to death with my knowledge of firearms. And from time to time suggest that they get a copy of Hatcher's Notebook for the gun library there in Fort Worth. But I will tell anybody, even my dear acquaintance David Tubb. An Olympic and Camp Perry World Champion many times over. If anyone comes up to you and announces to you that they are a "Gun Expert", RUN!!! They maybe within their sphere of interest, but there is just too much to know for one individual to know. My old gun source and friend David Tubb may even give you his two cents worth on this subject. And he has already changed the Sniper Rifle World Single Handedly with his evolution of his Tubb Gun. Ask another acquaintance of mine, Kelly McMillian about their M40 rifles and the new Rifles based on David Tubbs design. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHSai4uJbLKlgcU Then Remington's new M40, (M40???). kzbin.info/www/bejne/opfaY4yAmrCha6c

[@slaughterhound8793]

This is the first video in this series where anyone has said in the comments that they understood the point of the music. I got so tired of the stupid negative comments that I wrote a long comment in the section of another video in this series trying to explain that it was supposed to be for an African safari. Sometimes I think people don't pay any attention to the world around them anymore, they are so unaware of anything!

[@tozobozo4142]

@@slaughterhound8793 I went to Africa once but had to leave early cos everywhere i went you could hear that music. Just like here in the west where those harmonicas never stop.

[@joshuawiley7200]

proof that quality work takes time. turned out beautiful. i am well aware at this point that i completely lack the patience required to get the results i am looking for.

[@jeffallen6754]

I followed you instructions to the letter and my marlin 336 turned out fantastic.

[@danfeasby4588]

Thanks for the inspiration Larry! Every time I watch your videos, I realize I CAN do this type of stuff! Thank you for helping me save a ton of money and improve the look of my worn out rifle!

[@thostube13]

Thanks for posting. I followed the instructions and got great results.

[@rogercarrico4975]

Great advice on disposing of the linseed oil soaked rags. That stuff will absolutely heat up and ignite up the right conditions.

[@Billo1281]

I’m about to rust blue a 1908 Steyr Pieper pistol. It’s in pretty good shape just needs a new bluing job. These videos are great help!

[@Posichronic]

Is that music part of the video or is it just playing in my head, signaling the onset of insanity?

[@mishimafan9267]

WrigglingWorm *aggressive Zulu grunts*

[@cberge8]

What music?

[@d00mg4ze]

Excellent presentation. Thank you, dear sir.

[@manfalls1521]

Never knew rust could be so beautiful

[@sheltonlewis3128]

Thanks for the excellent showing of the rust bluing process.

[@boredboiseboy]

You don't need red rust! I'm almost done with a project and I'm getting good results with the blue-green rust that forms in my climate.

[@pacman10182]

are you breathing copper?

[@charleshenryscholliers7551]

I think the rust color depends on the solution used but im not totally sure

[@billbright1755]

.375 Mannlicher Schoenauer . Sounds like the Zulu are about to overtake the gunworks shop. As long as the war drums sound, it’s all good, when it goes silent that’s when trouble is afoot. Reminds me of the 50s movie “ King’s Solomon’s Mine” those guys had some hunting rifles but only had one cartridge between them. Their hope was their captors didn’t realize it.

[@stevescheel8807]

Have you ever seen anyone shock a Zulu?

[@calevel]

I miss his how to videos. Larry is indeed a master craftsmen!

[@kennyh5083]

Wow! I didn't know about the damp box, ok now I know why my bluing never worked out the way I wanted! Thank You!

[@hakimmic]

Great instructional videos. Thank you.

[@jkalash762]

Thank you for all the info you share with us for free! You do an incredible job of laying everything out step by step. In conjunction with my courses at SDI i feel like I'll be squared away with the knowledge i need to tackle just about any gunsmithing job.

[@alexanderchapman2525]

Best rust blueing job I've seen yet.

[@daviddrago7107]

Wish I could just stand there and watch on All of Larry’s videos

[@bullgravy6906]

Considering a rebluing attempt on an old 1915 SW I have that’s just hideous to look at, this was very helpful! Still not sure I’m brave enough to try it though

[@rangerofmirkwood746]

A friendly suggestion. You might want to check out Backyard Ballistics on KZbin. He's an Italian gunsmith that does a lot of rust bluing in his gun restoration videos. And goes more in depth into the process than Mr. Potterfield.

[@canadianfury3027]

Awesome! Going to reblue my ross rifle the way it was done 100 years ago since it has barely any finish on it anymore.

[@justinbailey1756]

absolutely beautiful finish.

[@robertlombardo8437]

I came here because I'm planning on making some traditional parts for a medieval crossbow. But all traditional implements can use a modern touch of love from time to time.

[@cosmedic]

Very thorough and informative videos. Very well done. I enjoy your work sir! Keep it up :)

[@JDL_2020]

I can't even imagine how much it would cost to have this done today, but I love the finish. I wish Remington would refinish to their old 1980's bluing I had on my 870 Wingmaster at a reasonable cost. My 28" barrel still looks brand new and I hunted with it a lot, but the receiver was having surface rusting problems so I re-blued. I tell as many people who will listen, "do not use steel wool without cleaning/soaking to get all the oil out before using" when bluing. Some use blue jean material so you avoid oil all together. My 870 Wingmaster re-purposing to HD shotgun re-bluing project had an unexpected outcome after using the 0000 steel wool, it developed brown spots in the finish. But as the legendary Bob Ross would say, I had a "happy accident" and the brown mixed in the bluing gave it a rustic old patina look and I have kept it that way.

[@hellcatchuck2723]

I wish I had a quarter of this man's knowledge and ever a smaller amount of the workshop haha.

[@cruisernet]

i love this channel its alway something to learn here.

[@johnsaia9739]

Excellent video and I learn something everytime eventhough I have rust blued before. I do like the way the rust blue looks compared to modern hot salt blue, it has real depth and sheen.

[@celticdude4686]

Cheap damp box. Just take the parts in the bath room and take a shower. Repeat five times till you get the finish you like or until your fingers look like raisins.

[@everythingknife8763]

That much moister is really bad for the closet, mildew factory. Do you have access to an old fridge, upright freezer, or large cooler?

[@lakey253]

Use an old gunsafe!

[@johnlarryedward]

Bring it down to Florida unlimited sizes available.

[@jonathonlang1844]

John L Edward I live in Mississippi and was just thinking the same, I could save money on that damp box if I just walk outside.

[@MAWW-tc2zz]

Read my mind

[@TheEdguitars]

boiled linseed oil as a final step was something new for me, tru oil works great on blued surfaces as well

[@ArthurMorgan-_-]

Vinegar also works great for this process, wanted to blue the inside of the gas tube for my SKS and it worked a charm

[@stevesmith2507]

Nice job sir. Excellent presentation.

[@vladorlovsky6623]

Great video. Followed it exactly. Great results. Thank you very much!

[@Jonno2summit]

I am bluing a barrel for a Traditions Kentucky pistol that has a lot of odd shapes and protrusions at the rear. So I used a small detail air gun to spray the acid on. I heat the barrel up to 150 degrees in the oven first so that the acid (like water) doesn't bead on the surface. Multiple light coats of spraying makes for a uniform coat of bluing acid. This method works well for this particular project with unique recesses that are hard to get to with a cotton swab or the like. If anyone tries this, just make sure you get that acid out of your spray gun! Clean with water and baking soda water.

[@_DixonCider]

I did this with a set of drill bits that got slightly rained on. I thought for sure I'd have to throw them out, but they came out gorgeous.

[@goneutt]

Thanks, I was curious about the blueing process. But you should know that drying linseed oil polymerizes, so it will probably produce a different final coating than other oils.

[@ozziejim8472]

Those rags can and will start a fire! Good advice Larry.

[@erikroark4]

Thank you for giving a wonderful explanation on how to blue a firearm.

[@deeremeyer1749]

Thanks Larry!

[@BACCHUS777]

Thanks for disposing of those oil soaked rags responsibly.

[@jasonaskaggs]

PNS SHOGUN lol

[@fleatactical7390]

Work of art!

[@farooqjamatee]

Great video sir

[@miGsKills]

I love these videos

[@011CJ]

I just love these vids

[@wasup9439]

If only I had a shop like that

[@juliodc1231]

That is awesome, I love these videos

[@jackt6112]

The use of Linseed Oil surprised me since it dries, but I can see where that underneath would help prevent rust better than gun oil alone.

[@jailoutafreecard4414]

Supposedly it fills micropores and helps water proof

[@UnderseaCaveman]

Great video...nailed it...thanks

[@zohaibali7645]

thanks for showing .can you recommend me some chemicals whick used to open rusted nuts bults of my rifle .as my rifle is out of order and rusty it could not opened please suggest me what I do

[@Cerg64]

Wow, looks like a difficult process, made to look easy.

[@PilotMcbride]

Stone the crows, you talented blokes give me the sh*ts, lmao!!!! Enjoy all of your videos, thanks you very much for your sight mate. This one is particularly good. Cheers from downunder mate :)

[@mr.iforgot3062]

Pilot McBride Whatever you do! Don't forget to fart my friend!

[@lordnevetsz]

That was very sweet.

[@crisjdsp]

perfeito, parabéns pelo belo trabalho !

[@vonclark6344]

I love Larry potterfield

[@jergensenC6]

Cool video.

[@محمدالناصري-ي9ث]

Hello, what are the materials placed in the basin, what are the proportions, and is this so-called paint in the basin? Please answer, and you have all my respect

[@eatwatukill]

another great video thx

[@brianlee6849]

I never knew about this traditional process where you create rust. What is the purpose of this? And does this protect the metal in the end better than the modern ways that they do it today? The final product looks really beautiful. Thank you

[@aayushsapra3982]

Ancient method/ less equipment method- Use of 3 parts ferrous sulfate crystals (not powder), 1 part copper sulfate solution, dissolve and make a solution with distilled water, clean/degrease the weapon, make sure no oil, seal using cork, apply with cotton pad or soft cotton cloth, place in a humid room(not a humidity chamber), next day clean top layer of rust with steel wool gently, reapply and repeat for 4/ 5days. Boil water (as much as you can) and add 100gm ferrous sulfate. Wash with this water slowly buffing with steel wool. You will get a dark coating and will even cover if you get any scratches. Apply oil to the surface. You can also use gun blue instead of this solution.

[@حيدربراهيم-د8ث]

Good evening. What materials are used in dye in detail? How much is the amount of articles to some and water quantity ??

[@firemasterx23]

Wow, wish I have your tools ;(

[@snowgorilla9789]

Hope most took note of dispose of boiled linseed oil rags properly because they DO Spontainiously Combust (catch fire on their own) Great Vid

[@-Honeybee]

Had this happen in my shop once. Scary thing. Smelled oil smoke and looked behind to see burning rags in my WOOD shop.

[@MichaelBrown-kk6ck]

My brother, years ago in junior/senior high school, was using linseed oil on a refinishing project and then went inside to change clothes to go out somewhere with me, leaving his clothes in a pile on his bed, apparently not realizing he’d spilled some linseed oil on his clothes. We came back home a few hours later to find his mattress in the yard soaked and with a sizable hole where it had burned. Mom had smelled smoke and called the fire department, who found the burning mattress, drug it downstairs and out into the yard, and hosed it down. Mom was rather upset about the situation and had plenty of time alone to stew about it before my brother and I returned; this was several decades before any of us had cell phones.

[@SpiritualHQ333]

This is the old a school bluing slow rusting take up to 6-24hrs and multiple applications but give the best results

[@allynmcfarlin2074]

I want to do this on a motorcycle frame. What happens to the finish if the metal is not polished first ??

[@TroutFink]

True professional

[@andysimple9357]

is it necessary to wipe the barrel after removing from water and what do i use

[@robertbrandywine]

Absolutely, and he went into that. Use a carding brush and/or bronze wool.

[@Tundra4X4]

When are you going to stock Pilkington again??????????????

[@WagsAutomotive]

Where are you located and what is the cost of doing something similar to what you are doing here?

[@Panzerlang]

What's in the solution, hydrochloric acid? I have that, need to dilute it I guess.

[@originalSynquest]

Are plans available for the damp box used here?

[@KevinNiven]

Wow very cool

[@user-cc9jk1jk7q]

Is only the barrel protected from bluing, or do you also need to protect the working/action parts from the bluing solution? If the working/action parts need to be protected, how are they protected? Thanks, Robb

[@batman88ironman]

Cool. Im curious as to how rust stops rust? Its like putting crap on your hands to keep them clean. Can i do this with an old colt police positive i have?

[@Fu3R4]

Same with aluminum. Thin oxide coating passivates the surface from more damaging corrosion.

[@BertieW0oster]

Or the green coating on copper, think of the statue of liberty.

[@mcgavin098]

Old pieces of iron have been out weathering for 100s of years without looking much worse than a rake you left in your garden a few months ago because the outter layer of rust is like a barrier. This process is creating artificial rust and then stopping the process.

[@coelhoteixeira]

Where is the video where Mr.Larry makes a wood chisel?thank you for the info.

[@Fedora5957]

I just won a RIA auction and got a 1863 Sharps converted to 50-70 US Gov. and I'd like to have it converted to 45-70 with new steel 22 inch barrel. Who could do this conversion of my new antique?

[@xmaswitguns]

No wonder it is durable. You’re essentially coating all your steel parts with magnetite film, a hard mineral. Chemistry = magic.

[@TheIngoBeck]

That's magic Harry Potterfield! I mean Larry.

[@pak_gunsmith9929]

hello sir i hope everything has good on there side, we need this classic rust bluing solution in Pakistan can you deliver it for me i am gunsmiths? thank you 😊

[@cadebohac3835]

Where do you get the blueing chamber or how do you build one?

[@BreakitDownBarneyStyle]

Where's the classic "I'm Larry Potterfield, and that's the way it is."??? I felt like this video wasn't complete without it.

[@300winmag1ify]

can you tell me how to remove pitting, I purchased a colt python that was left in a leather holster and has pits on the cylinder and side of frame...Thanks.

[@HughesEnterprises]

Only option is to file them out (please don't) or add weld and fill them (don't do that either). Keep it as-is, oiled and go shoot it!

[@robertbrandywine]

Yeah, you could weld the pits up and then smooth to the surrounding surface, then apply one of the paint finishes like Cerakote.

[@HughesEnterprises]

Robert Brandywine cerakoting a Python is like touching up a Picasso with kids fingerpaint

[@robertbrandywine]

Hughes Enterprises Of course, but it would get rid of the pitting, which is what he asked about.

[@joshuastreets6637]

Coating it is not getting rid of the pitting. Its simply covering it up..the pitting will still be there. Could draw file it but you take a chance on thinning the metal to much witch could become dangerous

[@kevindonahue6071]

Do NOT use gun oil immediately after rust bluing. Gun oil has detergents which can affect the finish. Instead use kerosene or old motor oil(old like after a 5k oil change, since all detergents are burned off by now). Gun oil can be used a few days later once the bluing is cured.check out ANVIL gunsmithing videos- the guy is fantastic

[@stephenrawle3013]

hi, can i use hydrogen peroxide instead of blueing solution as i can get it? thx steve.

[@Falconguygaming]

Do you really need the solution or does that just speed things up?

[@0Asterite0]

The solution is there to make an even coat of rust you convert to bluing later. I guess you live in a very humid environment, you could leave it outside and check up on it a lot, but it probably won't be even lol

[@charmainesintos3669]

Is it possible to remove gun metal coating on gun? Back to steel finish?

[@shootloadrepeat]

Yes, there is a gun blue remover product. Also, many different rust removing cleaners such as "Evapo-rust" will remove bluing.

[@longhairrasta]

Can I do this in my smoker with a water pan??? 😉😉

[@jaysmith7769]

Very interesting, indeed.

[@MS-wg4ty]

Spontaneous combustion? How do you do that?

[@roverman985]

I would have never guessed that you rust the metal to get the blue. Brush chemical on, let rust, clean and bam its blue. Learn something everyday.

[@LEXxTALIONS7913]

Can someone please tell me the cost of doing this to a revolver?

[@tozobozo4142]

"Just a few basic items needed. Nothing more than a fully equipped shop where every tool, device and substance you can imagine and some you can't are at your fingertips in all their permutations." I like these Midway vids but i sometimes wonder if their real purpose, or at least most practical thing they achieve, is showcasing an elite workshop most of us will never experience. (Is that a CTscanner machine i see in the background?) I watch these and then type "How to XYZ using three garage-sale handtools" into the search engine when i'm actually ready to start.

[@jamesb1988]

My thoughts exactly. If you already have the tools shown in this video, then you are the kind of person that wouldn't be needing to watch this video.

[@jacobgreve802]

Does the rust bluing process destroy markings? I am wanting to restore my 1909 Winchester model 1897 and I am worried about destroying its barrel markings showing the patent dates and other details.

[@calebheddy1447]

I've done a lot of research on the subject lately, yet haven't done it yet. You won't lose your markings unless you sand/polish them out. Perhaps if you let the rusting process go too long they could be damaged. Do your own research and be confident you know what your getting into and it should work out great. It seems to be one of the finest finishes out there just requires a lot of work. I'll be trying it on a 1930-40 era smith revolver thats been bare metal for years and pitted beyond the point of not return. I'd suggest trying the method on an alternative before the main event! Best of luck!

[@jacobgreve802]

Caleb Heddy I as planning on practicing anyway but thanks for the info. It alleviates a lot of the fears that I had.

[@hitoshisawa8479]

PLEASE HELP so it this what i should do fore my Arisaka 99 is this the original way they where blued if so do i have to polish the rifle first?

[@DatCupcake]

Well, this would be very time consuming for a factory producing military arms. I would imagine they would have used a process called hot bluing. It's very similar to this process, but instead of waiting for the parts to develope rust, the parts are submerged in a hot solution of potassium nitrate, sodium hydroxide, and water, followed by a rinse with water to remove excess bluing solution, then into boiling water just like this process.

[@hitoshisawa8479]

Shit

[@ruth406]

Where are the sweat boxes sold?

[@jeffreyoneill6439]

Does anyone have any suggestions for doing this to a cast iron table saw, for rust protection. I have used the cold blues out of a bottle but poor results. It looks good for a bit but rusts just as quickly. It sounds doable to me except boiling it in distilled water. Perhaps faking this step a bit and pouring a slow stream on it? I think there must be a lot of brains out there watching this, perhaps I can advantage of them. Thank’s ahead of time, I’m not sure how to answer.

[@0Asterite0]

You're using heat energy to convert red rust into bluing. leaving it under boiling water is the quickest way, and even that takes 30+ minutes

[@dingo5208]

I miss Larry schooling us. The new ads are not as interesting.