Plum Brown Problem

[WW1]

sot sure i am in the right place or not but thought I would try..my Dad has built a few custom muzzle loaders..never blued them always used Birchwood Casey Plum Brown..he made one for im in 76, thwen mine in 83 and my brothers in about 85..mine is all browned steel and German Silver..well he decided to make 5 more, one for each grandkid...it has been a nightmare finding parts, as most of the old places have gone out of business...well he has worked for weeks trying to get the nose caps, trigger guards and butt plates to take a good brown..he finally got to the barrels thinking they would be fine as they are good ones..he called tonight and was pulling hair..had spent 7 hours on one barrel and you guessed it, it looks crappy..well he is a true craftsman and is beside himself..we even called Birchwood Casey, and they swear up and down nothing has changed in the formula in the last 20 years..I think they are not telling the truth..anyway any ideas?..he needs help as he is worried he will pass on and not have them done..any suggestions will be tried..I dont think there is another company who makes this finish..it is a shame as if you could see my rifle, a 50 cal Hawkins made from the specs of an old original you would know why he is so upset...thanks alot.WW1

[buffalobob]

Built a muzzle loader about the same time. Kit from Sharon Rifle Barrel.  It used BC plum brown.

Probably BC is telling you the truth.

You say the barrels are really fine.  I bet they are.  In the 70s and 80s they were very cheap soft steel that was easily oxidized by a chemiical brew such as plum brown.

Ask your Dad if it was hard to draw file the flats.  If so then he is probably using a much better grade of steel barrel which does not chemically react with the stuff in the plum brown.

Progress in metallurgy may be the enemy here.  Best of luck.

[PennDog]

WWI:

Buffalobob is correct about the change in metallurgy over the last few decades.  I have had some luck with Mark Lee's Browning solution (available through Brownells) in browning various parts.  If you follow the instructions very closely you should get some good results...but the key is following the instructions (I did'nt the first couple of times and the results were less than pleasing).  

Good Luck!