How to Apply Perma Blue

Bluing helps protect guns against rust, corrosion and scratches through a chemical process. The term "bluing" comes from the blue-black sheen that results from this process, which improves the appearance of firearms and reduces glare to the shooter's eyes. Perma Blue, made by Minnesota-based Birchwood Casey, is a selenium dioxide-based solution designed for "cold bluing." This process may be less protective than hot bluing, rust bluing or fume bluing -- more complicated methods involving heat -- but it is the most economical way to blue a firearm.

Things You'll Need

  • Latex gloves
  • Small brush
  • Degreasing agent such as rubbing alcohol or Ajax
  • Cotton cloths
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Ensure the gun is unloaded. Review the manual for your particular gun and verify if there are any parts that should not be blued or come into contact with soap and water.

    • 2

      Put on the latex gloves and clean any grease from the metal surfaces of the gun, using the small brush and the degreasing agent. Use a brass or nylon brush if there is grease buildup on the gun.

    • 3

      Pour a quarter-size amount of Perma Blue onto a portion of the cotton cloth. Avoid saturating the cloth.

    • 4

      Smooth the cloth over the gun's metal surfaces until all of its parts are evenly coated with a thin layer of the solution. Quickly wipe away any excess Perma Blue, as it may leave a mark on your gun and require further cleaning, and allow the solution to dry.

    • 5

      Remove all of the solution with soap and water and dry the gun with another cotton cloth. Remove any Perma Blue solution that resisted the soap and water, using rubbing alcohol.