Removing and refinishing bell ends

[crackaddict]

Quick update. I got the super blue and am surprised by the result. I'm not a gun owner, so the various finishes were unknown to me.

Birchwood Casey Super Blue claims to be "the most black" of their various products. On the other hand, they also say it is for a "mirror finish". When you apply it a few times, rinsing between, it sure does look black, but it looks messy and has to be polished with 4/0 steel wool, and the final result is a shiny, somewhat darker, finish.

A video tutorial I watched last night showed someone using Birchwood Casey Perma Blue, and the end result was truly black, and there was no buffing involved.

If one wants a black finish, which product is actually to be recommended?

Derek

 

[Doc B]

The nickel content of the steel alloy dictates how dark the blue will get. Our bells really won't go past dark gray with the cold blues. Try building up a few coats, "carding" (polishing) in between with 0000 steel wool. Nitre blue (hot salts) might get a little darker but it's rather involved to set up.

To get a really black black will take paint, powder coat, or this -

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/186229-its-like-staring-into-a-black-hole-worlds-darkest-material-will-be-used-to-make-very-stealthy-aircraft-better-telescopes

 

[crackaddict]

Ok, I'm going to have to try all over again. With 3-4 coats of Super Blue, polishing in between, I thought I had a good result last night but in the daylight the result was quite blotchy.

Today I got a full re-bluing kit, and will remove the blue, polish it all up, and try again with Perma Blue. I knew I should have just done one of the three bell ends first, but I'm too impatient to get back to soldering.

Maybe I'll look into that Vantablack if I can afford it

Thanks,
Derek