I know this has been discussed to some extent here in the past, the search feature didn't quite get me the answer I'm looking for.


Is there a thread here someone can point me to where the high-quality damascus refinish craftsmen are named and examples of their work (and area of speciality) are shown and discussed?




Cheers
Tinker

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dfg2hmx7_192fcpp4khn
http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/17428644

Thanks for the links Rev!


On the page with 'recipe notes' do you know the molarity of any of those solutions?
Finding out on your own could end up costing quite a bit in time and resource.


Cheers
Tinker

Tinker if your looking at mixing formulas yourself make sure you read up on it all I have been browning for years and my advice would be avoid anything that has mercuric chloride other names for it are corrosive sublimate, bi chloride of mercury,muriate of mercury, its poison of the worst kind, you guys have have several ready made formulas over there that would be the best place to start, or send your work to one of the pros.

Lest some personal injury lawyer decide that a home chemist's untimely and gruesome death was MY fault, I've added this disclaimer to the Damascus Knowledge chapter

PLEASE NOTE: The following documents are provided as historical references only and no attempt should be made to recreate the highly toxic and potentially lethal solutions.

I definitely understand the issues around handling chemicals, I've worked in industrial and scientific chemical laboratories in the past, also have had smaller labs for my own use over the years.

From that experience is where I come to the sense that it could end up costing a fair bit to arrive to the necessary solution strengths during a 'finding out for yourself' exercise.

That experience is also what steers me in the direction of looking for the right vendor to do the work for me.
Having seen a few examples of recipe notes as seen above in the past which were also missing the critical information on solution strength I thought I'd ask.


Barrel Browner, what ready-made solutions do you speak of?




Cheers
Tinker

Hi Tinker I think one is called pilkingtons another laurel mountain these are the rusting style process other users will be able to tell you more about these and if you can brown with them,
this barrel was finished recently with 150+ year old family formula, but its not all about the formula, room temperature, quality of barrels, preperation all affect the finish.

I use the MARK LEE solution for some of my browns and it does a
good job without the Mercuric free ion.

There are several solutions around. It is a matter of heating the barrels, applying the solution and then carding the barrels. They all seem to work.

Dixie Browning solution:
http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_96_214_216&products_id=3054

Laurel Mountain:
http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_96_214_216&products_id=3175

Pilkington:
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/Store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=9815

Birchwood Casey Plum Brown:
http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_96_214_216&products_id=3167

Mark Lee:
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/store/P...SS%20BROWN%20#2

You might also want to read some of the following:
http://www.americanlongrifles.com/WorkShop_Barrel_Browning.htm

http://www.laurelmountainforge.com/barrel_brown_inst.htm

http://www.hobbygunsmith.com/Archives/May04/AutoShooter.htm

Be aware that a lot of what is being talked in the links above is about browning fluid steel barrels for black powder firearms.

Pete

Much thanks for the linked information.


Would anyone here care to recommend (from their experience would be a plus!) a US craftsman for the job on a set of high-grade Brit double rifle barrels?




Cheers
Tinker

Tinker,

Buck Hamlin
Pevely, MO
636-479-4304

Steve Bertram
Boulder, CO
303-938-1996
http://www.bertramandco.com/

Dale Edmonds
Kansas City, MO
816-444-2040

Keith Kearcher
Bend, OR
541-617-9299
http://members.toast.net/keithkearcher/

Dewey Vicknair
Ephrata, Pennsylvania
717-733-2145
http://www.vicknairrestorations.com/

Of the above I have personal experience with Dale, Dewey and Keith. For B&W I would recommend Dale, for a traditional British brown Keith. Dewey has a very unique outcome, which I like. These are my guns.

An example of Dewey



An example of Dale



Pete