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  for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Neutralising gun blue

I have a rifle stock which has supposedly been absorbing chemicals used in gunbluing. The result is that my rifle barrel gathers rust in that area due to the chemical reaction taking place. Please suggest a way I can overcome this problem.
Thanks Much,

RIZWAN IMAM
HOBBYIST - HYDERABAD, A.P, INDIA
2005

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I doubt that that is the problem, Rizwan. The fact is that although gun bluing is not a corrosive finish, it's not a very corrosion resistant finish either. Short and sweet: blued gun barrels must be kept oiled or they will rust.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2005

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Blueing chemicals work by causing rust to form on steel. Therefore it should not come as a shock that they contiue to do so after being absorbed by wood in contact with the steel. These chemicals are mainly acidic. You might try neutralizing them with a baking soda [in bulk on eBay or Amazon [affil links] solution. Remove the wood from the gun when doing this, and oil or wax the metal before reassembly.

Tom Salzer
Welding - Bedford, Massachusetts
2007