[Winchesterman2011]

Hey Guys, First Thead here and ever.....
I have a couple questions maybe someone can help...
I am fixing to start bluing gun.. my question the heat source.. I don't wanna use gas.. Brownells sells heating strips that goes inside the tank....do you think I use use 2 hot water heating elements instead one on each side to heat up????
I also am thinking about instead of steal tanks getting a 10" or 12" pvc pipe sealing off ends really good and cutting the pipe down the middle and make 2 tanks outta one pipe... i don't see why it wouldn't work does anyone here??

 

[Jaeger]

I haven't blued or parkerized a weapon in ages. When I did so at my friend's shop, we used very high temperatures to heat the salts or solutions. Will you need that kind of heat with your project? If so, that PVC might not stand up to it like a good metal tray. As you note, new methods apparently don't require the flame under the trays anymore.

While I'm pretty new here too, let me say: "Welcome aboard!"

 

[William R. Moore]

You are dealing with extemely caustic solutions where chemical burns can result from contact with the fluids. In addition, the temperatures are above boiling water. This is no place for "I think I ken make this work" approaches to the issue. I'm not sure water heater elements will produce the temperatures (how you gonna control that anyway?), survive in the solution or what they might do to the chemical makeup of the solution. By the way, don't forget the faceshield, chemical gloves and apron.

Brownells will send you a copy (used to be free, dunno now) of instructions for their bluing salts. The procedures would be close for any salts. Their Gunsmith Kinks books can also provide you with plenty of information to cut your learning curve. The books are cheaper than polishing a really strange color off your weapon so you can try again.

 

[PA28R200]

The temp of the salts will melt the pvc, before it got to temp the sides would collapse.

I do parko work and have a ss tank system that runs 12k watts to maintain proper temp using a digital controller.

Two 1500 watt units will not supply enough heat for bluing in a rifle size tank.

A full lenth gas log with a submerged water inlet is the best way.

Also understand, 60% of the salts is caustic soda.

THE OPERATING TEMP FOR THIS PROCESS IS 290-295 DEGREES F.