Blue Steel...

[Mapster]

Can anyone tell me how to blue steel? I am working on making some disc brakes for my bike and thought it would be a cool effect to have them blued. Does it take a special steel or anything? All help is appreciated

Marshall

 

[Dalecamino]

Marshall, take them to a gunsmith.:wink:

 

[mredburn]

You could also powder coat them or there is a cold blueing solution that you can apply yourself. You might find the cold blueing solution at Dicks or Bass pro shop. I know Mike Roux has a powder system from harbor freight he might let you use.

 

[mrcook4570]

Gun shops may carry a bluing kit. I believe Brownell's and Outers used to make such a kit. It has been a while since I have looked for them, so I am not sure if they still do.

 

[low_48]

I'm pretty sure the true factory bluing is a heat/chemical process. There are cold blue kits, but I don't know how well they work. I used a cold brown process on a muzzle loader I built years ago. I really liked the way it turned out. Google can be your friend.

 

[ohiococonut]

You can apply cold bluing yourself but it won't look as nice a dipped hot bluing or be as durable, especially on brake disc for a bike. Any gun shop should sell small bottles of Birchwood Casey cold bluing and I think wally world carries it too. You'll need some type of degreaser such as brake cleaner, the bluing, rubber gloves, 0000 steel wool, cotton swabs and a clean cotton rag.
It might be a fun and cheap project but you get what you pay for. I myself wouldn't have them blued at all because of the rust issue but that's just me. If you're still interested PM me and I'll describe the process I use.