[TheForge] finish help

[northwoods]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Andy Vida" <osan@netlabs.net>
To: <theforge@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: January 07, 2002 3:07 PM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] finish help


> No.  I have heat blued many, many items.  It does not prevent
> surface rust.  It helps, but in itself is not sufficient, at
> least in my experience.

I use it on my blackpowder firearms where parts can be and often are subject
to a rather corrosive enviroment, and find that it does a very good job of
preventing surface rust. Not the most durable finish, but it does prevent
rust. All parts that I routinely temper blue are taken to a high level of
polish first, which probably in and of itself provides a decent degree of
corrosion resistance.
Another route would be to charcoal blue. This finish definately provides
corrosion resistance, and a good looking blue finish not unlike a temper
blue. Probably overkill for a trivet though.
To get a charcoal blue simply place object to be blued in an oxygen free
enviroment (like a charcoal fire) and hold at black/red heat approx. 1 hour.
Remove and rub with wool or course cloth liberally oiled with neatsfoot oil.
T. Clark