Need advice on rust brown finish

[jedman]

I have a old shotgun that I would like to try a rust brown finish on.
This gun has been sand blasted and is down to clean bare metal.
I tried a brown finish along time ago on a barrel that was polished well and did not get a very even color.  I would like to hear from you that have done this before and had good results.
I would like to know what brand of finish to use , even a homemade concoction and any tips on getting a nice durable antique looking finish.  Thanks,   Jedman

[Nobade]

I find that browning works best on blasted finishes, so no worries. I use the Birchwood Casey stuff, and it seems to work fine. I heat the parts over a propane stove if they're small and my bluing tank burner if big like a barrel. I paint the solution on as fast as I can with a wool dauber, then card it off under running water with steel wool. Heat the part until water sizzles, and do it again. Keep at it until it looks like you want. If you give it enough coats it'll look black instead of brown - my last TC hawken came out that way after around 25 coats. It's not brown, but looks quite nice. Make sure you have good ventilation, the nitric acid fumes are rough on your lungs and eyes. Watch out for splatter, anything that stuff hits is going to rust. Otherwise, it's pretty easy to use stuff. Never tried the other brands, folks say the Laurel Mtn Forge kind is really good but I don't have any experience with it.

[dud]

try the laurel mt forge. i have browned 5 guns three with laurel mt stuff gave best results and easy to work with.im doing one right now.order direct from thier web sight.

[jedman]

Thanks, I like the idea of being able to keep adding coats with heat to get the job done in one day as it sounds like you can do with the Birchwood Casey product. I use to see it sold at many local stores even K mart some years ago , but over this past weekend I went to Gander Mountain, Dicks, and a large gun store and none of them had any brand of brown to sell?
I am in no big hurry to get the stuff, I might find some at the gun show this month in my area, I know I can order it online, either brand but I hate to pay the high shipping cost for such a small item. I was a little confused as to what carding off meant. Nobade says he uses steel wool, on the Laurel MT website they say to use  a piece of stiff cloth and I have read elsewhere to use a brush.
Thanks for your replies,   Jedman

[Freezer]

  A word of caution.  If your trying to brown a SXS heating it with a tourch could soften or melt the solder between the barrels.  A hot water bath might be better.

[dud]

freezer is right do not use direct heat to damascus they will come apart.