Caswell Bluing on Slide?

[BrewerGeorge]

Has anyone heard of somebody who tried the Caswell Stainless bluing kit on the slide? I don't love the shine.

I'd only do it on the outside surfaces, but it's risky because I don't think you can go back without bead blasting or something right?

I'm hoping somebody has some experience who can tell me yay or nay.

[BrewerGeorge]

Nobody?

[carvertim]

I have and will try to take some pictures tomorrow.

Tim

[carvertim]

Well it is hard to get a picture, without having a glare, but here are two tries.

Tim

https://picasaweb.google.com/117188453599142465200/October132011#5663088311919496082

https://picasaweb.google.com/117188453599142465200/October132011#5663088306339366674

[BrewerGeorge]

That is outstanding. Thanks so much!

[Benaiah]

Thanks for the pics. The finish looks really good. Does the gun gets carried in a holster? I'm curious how durable the finish is.

[BrewerGeorge]

Well it is hard to get a picture, without having a glare, but here are two tries.

Tim

https://picasaweb.google.com/117188453599142465200/October132011#5663088311919496082
Cavertim,

Did you do anything special to prep the slide before using the blackener? The Caswell forums have quite a few threads talking about people getting inconsistent results and the consensus seems to be bad prep. How did you get such good results?

[carvertim]

I completely disassembled the slide, then sprayed with brake cleaner, followed by a hot soap water wash, and heated dry in a low oven (170). Then I simply applied the solution with a swab, and rubbed it around with some 0000 steel wool. I let it sit for about 2 minutes, then rinsed in lukewarm water, let it dry and applied oil. I am going to tuch up a few spots where I must have left a fingerprint, but other than that I am very happy with the outcome,and am considering doing the same to my CM9.

Tim

[BrewerGeorge]

I completely disassembled the slide, then sprayed with brake cleaner, followed by a hot soap water wash, and heated dry in a low oven (170). Then I simply applied the solution with a swab, and rubbed it around with some 0000 steel wool. I let it sit for about 2 minutes, then rinsed in lukewarm water, let it dry and applied oil. I am going to tuch up a few spots where I must have left a fingerprint, but other than that I am very happy with the outcome,and am considering doing the same to my CM9.

Tim
Thanks. My kit should be here Wednesday and I'm looking forward to getting to it. I'll post pics.

[jocko]

rubber gloves might help the finger print thing, or how about a little wooden down in the striker hole just tight enough tha tu can hold the dowell and turn the slide any way u want anbd never have to touch the slide with ur fingers.

[BrewerGeorge]

What a nightmare. I don't recommend that anybody try this. The best I could do after hours of trying still looks like crap. I followed all the directions, cleaned and degreased, had a wet finish, etc.

I'm not embarrassed to carry it, but damn nearly so. I'm not going to show you pics because it's such complete crap. In the first place, it should be called a darkener, not a blackener. It's just a darkish gray, much lighter than the polymer. It's mottled, red-rusty in places, horrible.

Looks like this thing's going for an NP3 or Ceracote finish or something.

[carvertim]

George,

did you use steel wool when you applied your finish? I found it helped to even it out. Also, you can repeat the process and obtain a darker finish. It takes a bit of work, but it can be done. Cerakote is certainly easier, but the Caswell can be made to work.

[BrewerGeorge]

George,

did you use steel wool when you applied your finish? I found it helped to even it out. Also, you can repeat the process and obtain a darker finish. It takes a bit of work, but it can be done. Cerakote is certainly easier, but the Caswell can be made to work.
I did use 0000 steel wool and I put on about 6 coats to get the uneven finish I have now. I probably worked on the thing for 3 hours last night. I used the gel. Which did you use, from curiosity?

I've calmed down a bit now and I'll post some pics tonight. In all honesty, it doesn't look like a horrible, mottled mess as I may have implied last night when I was frustrated. Like I said, I'm still willing to carry it the way it is now. The thing is that it doesn't look nearly as professional and nice as I want my primary carry weapon to look. It looks very much DIY. Maybe I'm just really picky about guns, but I'm not happy with it.

It's not the brush-on-wash-off, easy process the site describes, either, and it stinks to high heaven.

[carvertim]

I will agree wholeheartedly on the stinking part. Worse than rotten eggs. I got the best results by leaving a thick coating on for several minutes after spreading with steel wool. I used mobil one synthetic oil for my finish, and it resembles a blued finish of a S&W, than the black of a Colt. But it did get deeper with several applications. I also let the gun wait several days between applications. I would go through the whole process from cleaning through gelling and the rinse and oil, let sit a couple of days, the repeat entire process. I am about to do my CM9 starting this weekend.

[BrewerGeorge]

Ok, here are the pics...

http://hphotos-iad1.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/311758_137536299681506_100002754103524_128570_1099 850750_n.jpg
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/308985_137536336348169_100002754103524_128571_1292 479581_n.jpg
http://hphotos-iad1.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/316027_137536376348165_100002754103524_128573_1951 219614_n.jpg
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/297937_137536359681500_100002754103524_128572_1499 25182_n.jpg

[Sgt01]

OOOO... that IS bad. Did you ever end up sending it out to get it coated? If so, which coating did you choose, and how's it holding up?