doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Taming a mirror finish.

There's a metal prep solution available at auto supply stores, that has phosphoric acid in it. Gives a grey dull(er) finish. It will remove bluing, so be careful. It also seems to give a darker finish if used as a prep before using Brownells Oxpho Blue on small parts.

You have to be careful about some of the products. Products labeled "rust converters" are high in phosphoric acid and contain other ingredients as well. I've read that if you use a "converter" rather than a "remover" any metal you get the product on becomes difficult or impossible to re-color. Food for thought, I've always wondered what a "converter" would do to bore pits, as long as you were careful with the product.

Ken

A phosphate treated surface will be impossible to recolor without aggressively taking down the old (phosphate) surface.

Once again, use a barrel browning solution that has diluted nitric acid in it. Just don't leave it on too long.