Royal blued CZ

[ThompsonCustom]

Well had time to do some bluing today and here's where i'm sitting. Slide turned out great nice and black, the color is really good a nice deep dark black. Same with all the small parts; hammer, mag release, safety, extractor, screws, mag base plate, and firing pin.

Now here's where things took a turn for the worse. The frame got some red soot build up on it like the other parts but it seems that it's not soot and doesn't wipe off like it did on everything else. I don't know if it's flash rusted now or what but it's going to have to be sanded down again how far i don't know yet.

Maybe someone that does hot bluing can tell me where I went wrong.

Solution is 5 lbs lye 2.5lbs sodium nitrate and 2 gallons water. The first problem I ran into was I could not get above 230 degrees I even changed heating sources and still nothing after about 2 hours and a lot of fluid boiling away I was able to hit 250. I decided to just add some parts to see if they would take color and half of them did. With the lid on the pot I was able to turn parts black so I started bluing everything but by the time the slide and frame were done the heat was above 300. The only difference between the slide and frame is I took the slide out about 5 mins sooner and cleaned off the red soot but when I went to do the frame no such luck. I put the frame on the buffing wheel to see if I could remove it that way and it didn't work so I'm gonna have to start over.


Added: I think I figured out half of my question the red color whatever it is, is causes from being to hot. Now I just need to figure out what I need to add more of to bring the temp from 250 to 285-295 without boiling most of it away.

[ThompsonCustom]

Here's some pics of the slide. it's as black and black could be but outside it caughtes so much light it's hard to tell.






I'll get some better pictures up when I get everything figured out with the frame.

[Jakashh]

That's incredible. Would you offer polishing services ever?

[UncleWalt]

I just picked up a CZ 75B Blued from my FFL that I bought through Bud's. BTW, Bud's delivered to my FFL in less than 48 hours from the time I placed the order. I was of the opinion that the blued models were discontinued in 2008 and I was buying new old stock. Not the case. Mine was manufactured and test fired in September 2013. There is a "13" stamped to the left of the slide S/N. Plus, the copy of the shooting report indicates it was test fired Sep. 20, 2013. So, CZ is now supplying new blued models. BTW, the blueing is very nice. One other surprise; there's no magazine stop on my model as with other CZ 75B's. Love the gun, I'm a happy camper.

[ThompsonCustom]

That's incredible. Would you offer polishing services ever?

Well not complete guns, it's just to much work and I don't have the time or the FFL. But maybe small part so people could complete there already glossy guns.

[Radom]

I just picked up a CZ 75B Blued from my FFL that I bought through Bud's. BTW, Bud's delivered to my FFL in less than 48 hours from the time I placed the order. I was of the opinion that the blued models were discontinued in 2008 and I was buying new old stock. Not the case. Mine was manufactured and test fired in September 2013. There is a "13" stamped to the left of the slide S/N. Plus, the copy of the shooting report indicates it was test fired Sep. 20, 2013. So, CZ is now supplying new blued models. BTW, the blueing is very nice. One other surprise; there's no magazine stop on my model as with other CZ 75B's. Love the gun, I'm a happy camper.

I was also under the impression that they were discontinued in 2008.  CZ-UB never scraps anything within specs., which results in the occasional curiosity/unique item.  You used to see more of these "atypical" pistols when CZ-USA first became the sole importer.  A five-year gap suggests that they are offering blued models again, though. 

By magazine stop do you mean the magazine brake?  A flat spring over the mainspring? 

[angus hobdell]

We recently got a  delivery of the supposedly discontinued CZ 75 Glossy blue pistol. ANyone wishing to do this hi polish should start with this glossy blue, "perfect" finish pistol.

[Jakashh]

Any updates on the frame, or complete handgun finished? I can't wait to see the end product 

[ThompsonCustom]

Lol sorry no real updates was also working on a browning hi power and just got that out the door. The frame just needs ran over the buffing wheel quick and then can be reblued. Just need to find the time.

[Polemos]

I've had several Pre Bs restored including three with the deep, rich blue finish you are talking about. A couple of them came back looking almost wet they were so finely polished. Typically not my style as I am a "working mans gun" kinda guy, but certainly love the look that throws back to the pre war Colts that we all remember fondly.  For my latest batch of refinished (blued) CZ75s (all dated from 86-87)  I requested a medium grade blue which requires less hand polishing, and in turn, less of that wet glossy look.  If the photos attach properly, you will see that they look almost chrome. I assure you they are dead, deep, rich blue (black).

~Polemos~

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/5449/cz1o.jpg
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/8279/cz3w.jpg
http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/9043/cz2kl.jpg

[ThompsonCustom]

Polemos that pre B looks amazing who did the refinishing work?

Update: did some testing on the bluing solution I have and its trashed. Luckily this time I decided to test it out before I put the frame back in for a second go around. Turned some small test parts some different colors and the wire yellowish green.

I'll have to start over on the bluing solution before I go any further. Going to try a different forumal this time:

5lbs Lye
2.5 to 2.7lb soduim nitrate
1 gallon water.

[Jakashh]

I've had several Pre Bs restored including three with the deep, rich blue finish you are talking about. A couple of them came back looking almost wet they were so finely polished. Typically not my style as I am a "working mans gun" kinda guy, but certainly love the look that throws back to the pre war Colts that we all remember fondly.  For my latest batch of refinished (blued) CZ75s (all dated from 86-87)  I requested a medium grade blue which requires less hand polishing, and in turn, less of that wet glossy look.  If the photos attach properly, you will see that they look almost chrome. I assure you they are dead, deep, rich blue (black).

~Polemos~

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/5449/cz1o.jpg
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/8279/cz3w.jpg
http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/9043/cz2kl.jpg

Whooaaahhh. That is amazing work....

[ThompsonCustom]

Another update.

Made another batch using my forumal above and instead of topping out at 230 it tops out at 275. So about 10 degrees less than I would like but it will have to do.

Blued some small parts today for 30 mins and they turned out but not as deep as black as the parts done with the slide.

So more time might be needed at a lower temp. They had the smallest spots of red on a couple parts but that rinsed right off.

Gotta play with it more tomorrow and hopefully get the slide done and this puppy back together.

Added: I put the parts next to the slide and I think there the same or very close I think I'll give the frame 5 mins longer and it should be good to go.

[ThompsonCustom]

These are just from my phone again I'll get some better ones up later in the week.

[jameslovesjammie]

Very, very nice!

Thank you VERY much for sharing this journey with us on the forum!  I've never done any hot bluing, only some touch-up cold bluing.