Carbon Steel Bluing

Forrest Taylor

Forrest Taylor

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
May 13, 2021
Messages
348
I tried Googling this question but didn't get the answer I was looking for.
Does anyone have any experience bluing carbon steel? How do different carbon steels take bluing? I'm sure the bluing method contributes. I'm looking for results that are noticably blue, not black. This question is for a guard and spacer, not the blade.
I'm looking at something from midwayusa, unless someone has a better idea.
 
Do a search for "Brownell Oxpho-Blue" and you'll find about as good a cold blue stuff around. I've used it a few times and had other folks recommend it. I used it to blue a wrought Iron guard - it gave a bluish grayish look. Not bad at all.
 
The only way you will get carbon steel blue is with heat.
The cold blues are grey/black, they stink, they don't hold up, and they offer no rust protection.
Heat bluing is not much better.
 
I was wondering if I'd be better sending it to a gun Smith.
I'm still curious about steel type, 01, 1095.....One of them is bound to take a bluing better.
 
Forrest Taylor said:
I was wondering if I'd be better sending it to a gun Smith.
I'm still curious about steel type, 01, 1095.....One of them is bound to take a bluing better.
Click to expand...
Mild steel actually takes bluing the best. I make guards and butt caps from mild and the blue really well. They should be taken to a mirror finish. The better the finish the better the bluing looks.
 
Stan has the answer. Use mild steel for guards and fittings. Heat blue it with a gentle torch until the color desired.

What I use id hot bluing niter salts (not the gun bluing salts). They melt around 500°. Melt a pot of them and insert a blade or fitting for just a second or two. The color will become a beautiful peacock blue. Rausing the heat a bit can change the color to different blues, amber, or brown.

One thing to remember about blued fittings and blades is it is only a surface oxide. It will be removed with wear or any abrasion like sharpening or heavy cleaning.
 
Yep, wears just just like a firearm.
It'll probably end up just an art piece anyway so that's fine, doubt it'll see much use. Besides it's just going to be a guard and spacer so even if I whack a tree it should be fine.
Now to rummage around the scrap pile and see what I can repurpose.
 
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