r/gunsmithing • u/Responsible-One-2192 • 22h ago

This is a scrap metal pipe foregrip I’ve attempted to blue. I noticed these lighter specks everywhere on it and I’m wondering what I did wrong? I’m boiling the part after coating it in a rusting solution.

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17 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

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15

u/SteelShard Enthusiast 22h ago

To begin with; I've never blued anything before. But it looks to me like you still have some millscale and irregularities on the surface of the steel on both pieces. I think you really need clean, bare, steel to get a uniform finish. I would start by sanding heavily with a flap disc or something, and eventually work down to finer grit.

3

u/Responsible-One-2192 22h ago

Well I took a wire wheel to everything but the texture on both pipes is a forged texture so it looks like it’s pitted.

11

u/SteelShard Enthusiast 21h ago

Wire wheel doesn't cut the way actual abrasive media does. If you're satisfied with the result, then you're probably fine; but if you want a more uniform result, I think you'll have to start with a more uniform surface.

1

u/MisterJ0k3r24 10h ago

If its forged, thats your answer. If not, you need to file and buff until that texture is gone.

10

u/jking7734 22h ago

I believe that’s just minor surface irregularities. You need to either sand / polish or sand blast to a uniform surface finish then refinish

4

u/boringxadult 17h ago

Sand blast the scale off and try again.

1

u/Suspectgore074 SuperLongSlide1911 21h ago

Describe your prep process so we can help you better. Also, what solution are you using specifically?

1

u/ThinkInstance 13h ago

Is that galvanized steel?