My 1994 Semi-compact restoration/chop diary - Finished

[Gunnerdad80]

Much better pics. That looks awesome man. Love how clean and lined-up the rear looks. If only I had the time and desire… 

[Underwhere]

OK cycle 3 is complete.

Straight forward. Rust, boil, card.

Here are the results.

I can't tell if it's getting any darker.

I was planning on 4 cycles for the slide and controls, and 6 for the frame.

Before :


After cycle 3:

[Earl Keese]

Looks nice. I've always rusted mine until they won't rust anymore.

[Underwhere]

Compared to another pre-b I did last year and pitted.

I just realized I forgot to blue the hammer pivot pin retaining plug.

Its the short one right?
Gotta start rusting that one tomorrow.

I really wanted everything to match.
Hmmm. I need to do the grip screws too. Good thing I remembered today.

Now come to think of it I ordered a black trigger from CGW. Maybe I should blue it instead.

[Underwhere]

Evaporust the grip screws and hammer pivot pin retaining plug

Evaluating the color...it looks like my frame is actually about the same as the frame on my already finished gun. I might only need 1 more bluing.
The slide on my previous gun is much darker. If I remember correctly, I could not get the frame to get any darker and I think I should have stopped bluing the slide so it could match. Now I'm thinking I should re-blue the slide (on the finished gun) so it matches.

[Underwhere]

Rusted all the controls today and included the hammer pivot pin retaining plug and grip screws.

So the HPPRP and grip screws are on cycle #1
The controls are on cycle #4
The slide and frame are on cycle #3.

Putting them next to each other, I don't see a difference between the controls and the slide/frame.

I wonder if this is as dark as it'll get.

[Underwhere]

I did a lot more today.

The HPPRP and grip screws are on cycle #3
The controls are on cycle #5
The slide and frame are on cycle #4

I don't think anything is getting darker. It's not blue but more gray.

The Mark Lee Express Blue process is to heat, apply, and immediately boil. Perhaps the process could stand for more rusting time and that is why it's not getting any darker.

The frame has some spottiness going on. I think I will do the frame one last time and hope to clear away as much as possible, not necessarily for it to get darker.

[Underwhere]

The HPPRP and grip screws are on cycle #4
The controls are on cycle #5
The slide is on cycle #4
The frame is on cycle #5

And I think I'm done with bluing.

Into the non-detergent motor oil it goes for 3 days.

Time to polish up the internals and get everything ready.

[Underwhere]

And I just realized I forgot to order grips.

My go-to is the grips4u.net wood grips.

Any suggestions?

[Gunnerdad80]

Nay suggestions?

Yes, put some really nice wood grips on it and package it up good. I don’t want it to get damaged when you ship it to me for Christmas. 

[eastman]

And I just realized I forgot to order grips.

My go-to is the grips4u.net wood grips.

Any suggestions?

those are a good choice - a have a few sets from grips4u

[Underwhere]

I love the look of the blued metal sitting in oil.

[Underwhere]

I did a quick polish of the action components tonight.

Should be ready to drop in.

This trigger bar is probably not the worst that has been produced but it's not the best. On the underside where the trigger support spring rides the channels cut into the bar are a bit odd. One side is fine. The other side is missing a wall almost.. So I'm concerned the spring will stay within the channel. We will see.

I removed the parts from motor oil and will let sit lightly oiled for the next day.

Its not perfect but it looks beautiful.

I'm glad I went a bit crazy and did all the tiny exposed parts. Looks good all matchy matchy.

[Underwhere]

The gun and parts are out of motor oil and wiped off.
I'll leave it for another day before really buffing it dry with a towel.

The finish is decent. I like it.

I put the barrel bushing back in to see how it will look with the barrel.

I think I'll keep it flush cut and blued rather than the bushing polished like the crown.

It's almost there.

[Earl Keese]

Looks like it darkened up nicely. Congrats!