Topic: Gun blueing motorcycle frame ?

[greenjeans]

spent the day cleaning up some old guns that my grandfather left to me several years ago and had the thought of blueing a motorcycle frame.

I have a cafe/industrial styled CB750 that I've been working on inbetween restorations over the last year.   Anyway, I thought that a blued frame would suit this bike pretty well.

Anybody have any experience with gun blue ?    I'm assuming I'll have to spend a good chunk of time cleaning and sanding the frame first.

[Terry in Australia]

Yeah mate, it's been done on bike frames before, the thing to keep in mind is that blueing won't prevent rust, so (just like your guns) you'll need to keep a thin coat of oil on it at all times, or all your hard work will be for nought. You'll need to take your frame back to bare metal, and not by blasting, the beautiful gun blue finish won't be achievable  on "pitted" metal. Cheers, Terry.

[TwoTired]

Yeah mate, it's been done on bike frames before, the thing to keep in mind is that blueing won't prevent rust, so (just like your guns) you'll need to keep a thin coat of oil on it at all times, or all your hard work will be for nought. You'll need to take your frame back to bare metal, and not by blasting, the beautiful gun blue finish won't be achievable  on "pitted" metal. Cheers, Terry.

+1

The blue will eventually turn brown.  It's pretty good camo, though, with that earthy look. 

[Retro Rocket]

GJ, after blueing you need this stuff.... Gibbs penetrant, scroll down to near the bottom of the page in the first link and check out the 36 ford coupe....

http://www.roadsters.com/gibbs/

http://www.getgibbs.com/

[greenjeans]

thanks fellas -gonna give it a shot -
i'll try that gibbs penetrant as well

[MoMo]

I'd like to see the results, keep us up to date...Larry