I do not do any finishing work, but I do use touch-up bluing. I have tried several with so-so results. I tried the 44-40 that was suggested earlier by Hop and I am pleased with the results. It is a very dark blue and applies easily.
Is buying what you need separately an option? I have never found those kits to have what I need and are full of what I do not use. What kind of firearms are you cleaning?
I wear a glove on my bullet feeding hand when I am loading straight lead or those messy coated bullets... I do not for jacketed bullets. To each his own.
I don't care if the cleaner used is water. Once it is contaminated with lead, carbon, oil, grit and grime, I don't prefer to have it all over my hands and everything I touch. Way too easy to strip off a glove when done.
I use gloves just to keep the mess off of my hands. If I have to answer the phone, go to the bathroom, etc., I can peel off a glove and not have to stop and go wash my hands. Keeping the chemicals off of my delicate digits is a plus as well.
I have one to do in the next handful of days actually. Here is an in-progress pic of blending one from my pictures files. Second picture is the finished result. Keep in mind the spacing in back opens slightly when the mainspring housing pin inserted into the frame....
Waiting on a couple frames and slides to come back from Cerakoting at Applied Ballistics here in Lafayette and cleaned up the finish on the stainless steel model. Bead blasted the rounds to clean them up and blasted the new front cocking serrations and the checkering. I also cleaned up the...
Churchmouse hit the nail on the head!
As far as the hardness goes, the piece is through hardened, not just the surface like a case hardening. Quite a few of the better aftermarket parts will have a hardness mark where they have tested it after machining. Having said that, the parts machine...
I was only getting one of the two hooks of a brand new, $70 hammer to engage a freshly cut 1911 sear. Knowing that the sear was done well, I knew I had to correct the hammer on the mill. Full disclosure, I was being a bit lazy and was hoping to get lucky. I have only had ONE hammer work right...