doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Stopping Surface Pitting on Damascus

So you've got an old double with damascus barrels. In a few spots the browning has silvered, and there's a spattering of black dots. Running your finger over the areas you find they are smooth to the touch. So they haven't yet graduated to full-fledged pits. Will simply keeping a light coat of oil over them stop them from going deeper? Would re-browning the tubes help retard the damage?

Yes to the first part of your question, a light coat of oil will help retard the rusting.
No to the second question. The only way to stop the pitting would be to sand the pits out. Unless the barrels had a lot of wall thickness, leave them alone.

If the areas are as you described, light sanding should remove them, but then the barrels will have to be re-rusted/etched.

Re-rusting barrels with pits will only get the rust into the pitted area again.
Stay with the oil.

I use 0000 steel wool and oil to take light rust and crud off.
it also helps bring the pattern out better

Many Thanks to the both of you. Should the o il I use be a light machine oil, or will a heavier "gun oil" be ok?

The barrels need to be coated with a varnish. Galazan sells some. http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=389304
I have used it and do not care for it, as it has hue to my eyes.

You can also use Tru-Oil. I believe Dr. Gaddy had a favourite that he used, Behlen's varnish.

Pete

I have had very good luck using a product called Nu Finish. It is a polymer metal finish designed to seal the finish on automobiles but works equally well on blacked/browned/color cased metal finishes. As long as you are keeping oxygen away from the metal you will not have further oxidation (rust). One application will last a long long time and it brings enhances the contrast of the pattern on faded damascus barrels. If your are not happy with the results it is easily removed with a wipe down of acetone or carburetor cleaner.

TwiceB - Shouldn't the barrels be re-browned before applying the stuff you mention? They're only showing on worn, "silvered" spots (4 or 5).

Many time it is not necessary to re-brown the entire barrel set when using the Nu Finish. The chemicals in the polish react differently with the steel and with the iron ribbons. which brings back the pattern after the original surface oxidation (browning) has been buffed off while removing the rust. The Nu Finish treatment also works great on any firearm to protect the finish from rain, mud and snow.

I would suspect that you could use Laural Mountain of Pilkingtons rust blue on spots but by the time you go through all the preparation, rusting, boiling and carding you might as well re-do the entire barrels.

Some folks use diluted etching solution from Radio Shack to "knock back" excess browning. I have 3 sets of wall hanger damascus barrels I experiment on.
I had some spots develop on one set and tried Bar Keepers Friend (available in most grocery stores). It is mostly Oxalic acid and much milder than etching solution. I just made a wet paste and rubbed it on with 0000 steel wool. I continued to rub with the wet steel wool until the spots were gone. It was less than 15 minutes of work.
I rinsed the barrels with hot water, dried and oiled. I have been watching them for 3 weeks now and they are still looking good.

Joe