My 1994 Semi-compact restoration/chop diary - Finished

[Underwhere]

I try to make sure all external surfaces look the same. After sanding with paper, I catch the hard to reach external areas with a red scotchbrite pad and then go over the whole piece to ensure all sand scratches are aligned in the same direction. Not sure if it's necessary,  because after the second or third carding I can't see much of the scratch profile at all.

Maybe I should hit it all with a scotchbrite pad.

[Underwhere]

I should not be so lazy.

It took me all of 5 minutes to get this thing shiny with a scotchbrite pad.

Then I stoned some of the sear surfaces.

I need to work on 3 parts of the frame where the trigger bar contacts and then I should be ready to clean/degrease then blue.

[Underwhere]

Polished a few places to ensure smooth operation.

I think my next action is to clean and blue.

Pics of the polishing and then of the small imperfections from CZ and from me (welding on the beavertail).

[Earl Keese]

Looks good! A few minor imperfections don't detract in my opinion. What method are you going to use for bluing?

[Underwhere]

Looks good! A few minor imperfections don't detract in my opinion. What method are you going to use for bluing?

I'm going to use Mark Lee Express Blue.
I have others standing by but I'm not very good at bluing and the last time I over-rusted and pitted the metal.

I need something more forgiving until I get better.

[Gunnerdad80]

Coming along nicely!

[Underwhere]

I washed with dawn dish washing soap tonight.
The pot, the pliers, the plastic containers, all the gun parts.

The parts came out a tiny bit blotchy. Maybe I had the water on too hot?

Gloves on from here on in.

I'm going to try bluing anyway.

Everything got a wipe down and a quick hit with a small butane torch to get rid of any water.

And then there's the rusting.

I heated until the flash water burned off and then applied the bluing solution. I really struggle with this. Every time.

I use a dabber to get the inside of the frame and it causes the solution to bubble and foam a bit. Even if I wring it out beforehand. This caused a few drips.

Then I did the frame with a wrung out cleaning patch.

It's hard to do this whole the frame is hot to the touch.

So it's boiling now. Let's see what happens.

[Underwhere]

Eh.
It's always a struggle for me.

This is the lightest I've ever gone with the rusting solution. The hammer spring plug didn't blue much. Most everything else did.

Some spots on the frame show some splotches which are pretty clear to me that they are runs in the solution.

My hands hurt from carding. Time to stop today.

Maybe I'll try another rusting tomorrow.

Or does anyone think I should hit it with a scotchbrite pad and start over?

[Underwhere]

I found my carding brush from my basement renovation move. That made quite a difference. I was just using oil free steel wool.

The frame looked much more consistent after the brushing.

So all was brushed and I am going for round 2 of rusting and boiling.

Things I am doing differently this time around.

1. I degrease my vise and a roll pin punch.
2. I'll put the bottom of the frame in the vise and rust the top. Once done I'll use my handle that inserts into the threaded hole in the frame and rust the bottom.
3. Use the roll pin punch to hold the slide in the vise (firing pin channel)

Much more consistent application this time around.

Here are pics after carding and before rusting and boiling.

[Earl Keese]

I think it's looking good. My first rust cycle is always a little splotchy. I've learned to trust the process and go several cycles before I panic.

[Underwhere]

OK the second rusting and boiling is done.

Almost done carding. I need to get into the nooks and crannies of the frame and slide.

I think it's looking decent. The slide a little blotchy but I am hopeful it will turn out OK.

I used much less solution and the color is changing very slowly this time around but I think that's a good thing.

I will need to monitor the color differences between slide/frame and controls.

I think the slide darkens faster so I will need to do less cycles on it. Same with the controls.

[Underwhere]

I had to sneak a peak before bed tonight.

I think the frame actually darkened as it sat on my workbench for an hour and a half. Call me crazy.

[Gunnerdad80]

Yeah the frame is lookin good.

[Underwhere]

Just some dry fitting of controls to see if the bluing matches. So far so good.

The back of the gun looks so clean now that it is smoothed out. This is why I am bluing the sear cage. It's gotta match.

2 spots in the back I hope work themselves out.

[Tok36]

Matching Sear Cage and Hammer, nice.