I am exploring ways to 'age' a barrel. I have been using cold browning which I like, but I would like an aged, 'iron grey' steel barrel.
To get that look I probably went about it a much longer, harder process than really needed. It took five days of rusting/removing/carding to get the results I am after.
How I did it was to first round off all the visible sharp corners on my octagon barrel with a file. Then I nicked the surface lightly here and there with the corner of an old file and other things. The final step in preparing the distressed barrel was to sand it down using various grits of sand paper, from 100 down to 220.
Step two was to clean/de-grease the surface thoroughly and plug the muzzle and touch hole. Then I applied cold browning solution. I use the stuff from Dixie because it works very well. After three days of periodic applications the barrel was heavy brown with rust and pitting.
The next thing I did was to slather on Evaporust. I also wrapped the barrel in paper towels and saturated it with more Evaporust, then covered with plastic to prevent evaporation (as per the instructions)
After two days of that mess it was no where near what I wanted, still very rusted and blackened in spots! It didn't dissolve the heavy rust like I hoped, so that meant I had to start attacking at it somewhat gently with assorted 3M pads dabbed in more of the solution. That took easily about 5 hours of work but I could see progress so I had hope and continued working at it. (My fall-back plan was to just re-brown the barrel and forget this idea.)
Finally, when I had the metal an even grey with very nice pickling I washed it down with water, dried it and then rubbed it with a fine 3M pad and lots of white vinegar.
Then more cleaning and a good oiling to stabilize it. I think it looks nice and aged now.
I don't know if this was the best way to approach "aging" a barrel and I would like to know of other's approaches.
Thanks,
Bob
To get that look I probably went about it a much longer, harder process than really needed. It took five days of rusting/removing/carding to get the results I am after.
How I did it was to first round off all the visible sharp corners on my octagon barrel with a file. Then I nicked the surface lightly here and there with the corner of an old file and other things. The final step in preparing the distressed barrel was to sand it down using various grits of sand paper, from 100 down to 220.
Step two was to clean/de-grease the surface thoroughly and plug the muzzle and touch hole. Then I applied cold browning solution. I use the stuff from Dixie because it works very well. After three days of periodic applications the barrel was heavy brown with rust and pitting.
The next thing I did was to slather on Evaporust. I also wrapped the barrel in paper towels and saturated it with more Evaporust, then covered with plastic to prevent evaporation (as per the instructions)
After two days of that mess it was no where near what I wanted, still very rusted and blackened in spots! It didn't dissolve the heavy rust like I hoped, so that meant I had to start attacking at it somewhat gently with assorted 3M pads dabbed in more of the solution. That took easily about 5 hours of work but I could see progress so I had hope and continued working at it. (My fall-back plan was to just re-brown the barrel and forget this idea.)
Finally, when I had the metal an even grey with very nice pickling I washed it down with water, dried it and then rubbed it with a fine 3M pad and lots of white vinegar.
Then more cleaning and a good oiling to stabilize it. I think it looks nice and aged now.
I don't know if this was the best way to approach "aging" a barrel and I would like to know of other's approaches.
Thanks,
Bob
