Perma Blue Instructions

"Hot bluing" is a process that protects steel from rust by depositing an iron oxide called magnetite on the metal's surface. The magnetite is usually dark blue so the process is called bluing and it is commonly applied to firearms. After use, the blue finished surface invariably becomes scratched. The bluing can then be cosmetically repaired by "cold bluing." Cold bluing hides the scratches by painting over them with a compound that looks like bluing when it dries. Perma Blue comes as either a liquid or a paste and is a cold bluing compound made by Birchwood Casey, Inc.

Things You'll Need

  • Perma Blue gun blue kit or equivalent
  • Clean rag
  • Rubber gloves
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Instructions

    • 1

      Buff the sections of the gun you intend to reblue with one of the 00-grade steel wool pads included with the gun blue kit.

    • 2

      Pour about 1 tsp. of the cleaner included in the kit onto one end of the small sponge included with the kit. Wipe the wet sponge over the areas of the gun you just buffed with steel wool.

    • 3

      Pour about 1 tsp. of the blue and rust remover included with the kit on a small, clean rag and wipe the rag on the same areas of the gun with a damaged finish. Allow the rust remover to air dry and clean the same areas with the rust protection wipes included in the Perma Blue kit.

    • 4

      Put on rubber gloves. Dip one of the bluing applicators included with the kit in the bluing solution or paste. Paint the damaged areas of the gun with the bluing solution or paste using as few strokes as possible.

    • 5

      Allow the bluing solution or paste to air dry. Reapply the bluing solution or paste at least two more times.