Classic & Vintage - Finishing a steel bike in 'Gun Blue'?

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dannyg1
11-07-07, 05:56 PM
Here's an example:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1987-Pinarello-Treviso-54cm_W0QQitemZ220169355051QQihZ012QQcategoryZ98084QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

What is it and how's it used?

Thanks,
Danny

vpiuva
11-07-07, 06:03 PM
Stuff they use to keep rust off of guns. Basically you rub it on. It has to be renewed quite often. A blued bike is probably not a good idea. It was discussed on BF in another thread a little while ago.
SingleSpeeDemon
11-07-07, 07:48 PM
John Mellencamp has an old-school chopper built by Exile cycles that was finished in cold gun blueing. Seems to work on motorcycles, but you have to figure the finish is going to develop a patina...and rust.

unworthy1
11-07-07, 07:52 PM
yeah, it's a nice idea, but I think the reality would disappoint: not very durable nor protective and in need of continual upkeep. But if that sounds like your kind of fun...
c_m_shooter
11-07-07, 08:36 PM
It will be okay if you keep it oiled.
mediccody
11-07-07, 08:43 PM
Other gun coating methods besides blueing typically require using an oven to bake the surface on, or are harsh paints like industrial auto paints. You might be able to find a used/free oven big enough to bake a bicycle in, but in that case you would probably be just as well off with renting, buying, or building a powder coating set up.
Stacey
11-08-07, 04:04 AM
There are two methods of bluing, cold and hot. Cold bluing is a less durable single step process that via a chemical reaction in the metal to produce a navy blue in steel that looks much like anodized aluminum.

Hot bluing is a multi-step process that is done in a heated chemical bath which creates a stronger and more penetrating reaction in the steel which when oiled has a greater corrosionresistance than cold bluing.

For more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluing_%28steel%29
fritz1255
11-08-07, 05:35 AM
The other disadvantage of cold bluing is that it leaves a distinctive and not terribly pleasant smell associated with the chemical that produces the color. When you pick up a gun that has been touched up or blued entirely with this stuff, you can tell right away. BTW, the bike shown in the EBay auction does not look like it has been blued to me - very difficult to get the two tone effect shown. I suspect that it was painted to look like the color of gun bluing.