Turning black into bronze?

[Larry H. Smith]

Hello All,

I've got a 1971 Blue Streak with a considerable amount of bronze showing thru the black oxide finish.

I also have another Blue in excellent condition, and a Silver which also looks good ( although it is the matt, rather than polished "silver").

i intend, at some whenever in the future, to change the '71 into a "Bronze Streak" and then will have a silver, blue and bronze collection, topped off with the beautiful "Custom" Blue I got from Scott Blair.

I would appreciate any suggestions as to the best means of removing the black oxide, and polishing the bronze which is underneath.

I've recently run across mention of "EvpoRust" a product which is claimed to "remove bluing" leaving "clean bright, metal" when the item is soaked. The fact that blueing and rust are type of "oxides" makes me hope that this product might remove the black oxide as well.

Any knowledge or thoughts on this idea?

[anuthabubba]

http://www.evapo-rust.com/product-info/faqs/

[bgmcgee]

It really isn't blueing on the streak. It is more like paint. It can be removed with acetone and a bunch of elbo grease. The brass will polish up nicely but will need plenty of attention to keep it that way unless you can seal it. I did my dad's old Benjamin 317 a couple of years ago and  although it was a ton of work I liked the results.

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[scottblair1950]

Hi Larry, I'm glad to hear you're still enjoying the custom BS.

Ditto on the acetone or lacquer thinner. Then 0000 steel wool, then 3m hand glaze to polish. Like mentioned above, it can tarnish over time, but I think if you keep it wipped down often with a silicone cloth, it will keep its luster.
Good luck and let us know how you make out.

[lefteyeshot]

Just want to follow this thread. I have an old Crosman H9A series pumper pistol that's brass and was thinking the same thing.

[Motorhead]

Also had good luck using a WAX like Triwax for hardwood floors on clean brass.
Burnish it in well, let dry and buff off.  Oxidation is put to rest pretty darn well.

[scottblair1950]

Motorheads idea of wax to protect the fresh brass sounds like a great idea!!

[Andrew]

Hope this works? a link to a Benjamin 312 I did.

http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=66699.msg635166#msg635166

[Andrew]

It start to oxidize but then by fluke when I went to oil the pumping joints I noticed that the' Tri Flow ' oil I was using wiped the oxidization right off the brass!! so with a coat of this oil it will always remain bright.

Did mine a few years ago and it still looks like that day I did it.

[Motorhead]

Oils attract dirt ... They do work well so long as guns kept wiped down & in a somewhat clean environment.
Another great way in preserving shine on bare metals.

[Andrew]

Oils attract dirt ... They do work well so long as guns kept wiped down & in a somewhat clean environment.
Another great way in preserving shine on bare metals.

Yes they do but I keep my Benji dry, what I should of said is that there is something in Tri Flow that reacts with brass and completely wipes any oxidization right off, no rubbing just a wipe, then you can wipe it dry and still it wont tarnish, it must enter the pores of the brass and keep it from browning.

Did my gun 2 years ago and it's still in exactly the same condition, used only a couple of times, still if it's stored away the brass should still brown after a while coming in contact with oxygen but it hasn't, I just accidentally noticed that when an oily rag with Tri Flow touched the brass it instantly brought it back to that polished golden color and has not changed at all.

[Larry H. Smith]

.....there is something in Tri Flow that reacts with brass and completely wipes any oxidization right off, no rubbing just a wipe, then you can wipe it dry and still it wont tarnish, it must enter the pores of the brass and keep it from browning.

This may be an answer, given the fact that EvapoRust does NOT work on brass/bronze oxides, only iron oxide (so says their web-site, and an answering e-mail to my inquiry). If TriFlow has a chemistry that has similar action on brass as what EvapoRust does to iron, it may do the trick ;-)

Any chemists care to comment?   

[Larry H. Smith]

A quote on the subject from an older thread: 

Polishing the brass kills the resale value. But it looks awesome!

Ok, ...I'll speak for myself and any other heretics . 

Collecting dogma aside, if offered two equal-condition Sheridans  - one stock, and the other carefully polished, I'd be happy to pay the polishing craftsman a bit extra for his trouble, and be proud to have the result.

I'm more interested in owning a beautiful piece of work, than being able to claim any politically correct (to some) descriptor like "original".

I'm never sure what to think about accumulating items to fill out some list, vs. gathering those with some kind of special inherent appeal.

I assume a real purist would keep a scratchy, hard-pulling trigger, etc., and avoid any other improvements that would, in fact, constitute "modifications".

In any case, ...to each his own. 

[scottblair1950]

Very well said Larry. Beauty, and desirability, is in the eye of the beholder AND buyer. I've sold many AG's that I restored AND modified. They have all sold for a higher price than an original. Polishing your brass streak will only lower the value to someone who desires an original. To someone like me, you, and countless others, It will be more valuable, because we are the type that simply love guns that in OUR EYE, are more attractive and desirable. Neither type buyer or collector is wrong, or right. They simply have different tastes.

I'm looking forward to seeing a picture of your "brass streak", when its finished. Good luck, and have fun !!
Scott