I have been trying to get a handle on Rust Bluing by boiling the parts after swabbing on the solution.  Have been using Brownell's Dicropan IM.  First try was o.k. but not great.  Worked out a cleaner I like and a procedure.  I was wearing Latex gloves to keep skin oil off the parts but was getting a failure of the solution to wet out after the 2nd pass.  Today I noticed a sticky feel at the first carding and re-cleaned the barrel, put on a pair of Dry Cotton Gloves and had no problem.  Read once about a clean pair of gloves after each pass and I will be doing that from now on. No more Latex gloves for me.  Gave up on Steel Wool for carding and have been using a Stainless Steel "Brillo Pad" that I got at the grocery store.   Hope this helps someone.  David

Laurel Mountain Forge Barrel Browning and Degreaser works well for me. Three hours in a sweat box and it's ready to boil and card. Also use a .0025 stainless wire wheel for carding the parts. The link will take you to Brownell's. I use the four row wheel.

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I'm certainly no expert at this but my barrels and other parts turn out fine.

JerryH

I'll second JerryH on the Laurel Mtn browning solution. I started out with it and after reading about troubles others have with other products I'm sticking with it. It is very forgiving to use for rust bluing.

For those who card with 0000 steel wool (I do), you can get oil-free steel wool. No need to degrease the hardware store stuff. I use Liberon brand, found at most any fine woodworking supply house.

I degrease with acetone, and wear nitrile gloves which I change out every time I handle the parts. So far after a dozen guns I haven't experienced any problems, knock on wood. After using Laurel Mountain, Brownell's, and Bob's solutions I can't say that I have a favorite- they all work well IMO.

Just a spot of rain that did not get wiped off imediately ended up a rust crater.

  Must be acid rain from Asia. Cold rust blue is the most durable of all.

I do not know what solution was used to rust blue my rifle.

I never had rusting problems on hot blued rifles like this rust blued barrel.

It turned out to be a big disappointment for me.

If I had a way or you know of a way to ship bluing solution, I'm happy to part off a 4oz bottle of my homebrew neidners for someone to at least experiment with. I have 6 here, brown glass chemical bottles full and ready.... Its been aging for over a year.
You can always coat with BLO after. Ads a tiny bit of sheen but its rock hard and removable. Not sure, its an acid but Midway ships the stuff like Mark Lee, not sure if it has to go a certain way, is hazmat, etc. Cant be hazmat.......

I cant get my test parts to rust. Its durable, especially when you get 5-6 passes in.

4 oz will last you a LONG TIME.

Plus you can brown with it. Just don't boil it.

Every day for a month ?