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    Re: Chain Damascus initials WR Archived Message

    Posted by David W on July 27, 2008, 8:32 am, in reply to "Chain Damascus initials WR"

    Thanks Drew and Jason.
    This is my first attempt at rust bluing Damascus barrels to get that black/white effect. I rusted 5 times and etched 5 times.
    The first picture shows the before, a lot of blotchy patches after 11 years of toll. I sanded barrels with 220 grit emery cloth and then went to 320 emery cloth going with the length of the barrels. There was some very minor pitts near the muzzle. The barrels were put in a rusting box I made from plywood to accelerate the rusting and left there with a small bowl of boiling water. Left barrels in there for 3-3 1/2 hrs., then etched in a 3" pvc container with a diluted solution of Radio Shacks etchant and distilled water for 5 seconds. Carded with 0000 steel wool under running garden hose to stop etchant and remove rusting. Then put barrels in near boiling container of distilled water for 5 minutes to give the blue/black appearance. Let barrels dry and then dry carded with 0000 steel wool. I noticed that after the 4th boiling that the pattern was faint, went through process again, barrels didn't get any bluer, pattern was nice until I boiled, then pattern became faint again, so I tried etching again for 5-6 seconds, then flushed with cold water and wiped clean with a dry towel. Pattern was better but not "jump out" in your face.

    Coated barrels with motor oil and reheated with a propane torch (hot to the touch) let cool and polished barrels with a clean cotton towel.
    I'm fairly satisfied with the first attempt.

    Also worked on removing the varnish someone put on the stock, stripped most with varnish remover and gave it some coats of True Oil, the first time I ever tried it. I might take the sheen off by using some 0000 steel wool.


    They certainly used nice looking wood then. Wonder what this grade would be called today.

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