I'm pickin up some used mini-14 mags but they will need to be re-blued. Does anybody have any expeirience with off the shelf blueing products.

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Life is a matter of luck, and the odds in favor of success are in no way enhanced by extreme caution." Kptlt. Erich Topp

I've had good luck with Brownell's Oxpho Blue. If you can bead-blast the mag shells, Oxpho Blue will give you a nice matte finish.
After de-greasing, heating the metal (I use a propane torch to heat the steel until water sizzles on the surface - not much hotter than that) and using de-greased steel wool to apply the blue both seem to help at achieving an even finish.
For a darker finish, repeat the process. When you're done, rinse with HOT water, dry thoroughly and apply your favorite preservative.

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I think of my gun as a tool for converting worthless human garbage into valuable fertilizer.

As stated in another post, I use birchwood casey. The cold blue is simple, gives the desired effect but may have to be repeated after a year or so. The main thing is de-greasing. I wash with soap and water and a 0000 steel wool pad. Dry with a hair dryer, wipe with alcohol. Use rubber gloves when using the blue, the oil on your fingers will prevent the blue from working. Wash with cold water and steel wool pad.
You won't get the full effect untill you oil your project. I usually blue my project, wash with steel wool and blue again. Wash with cold water again using steel wool and dry. Use a good gun oil. If you go to birchwoodcasey.com you will get lots of good information. Good luck.

nothing beats a good hot salt blue

You are correct. The cost runs between 100 and 300 dollars depending on the method used. If you have a weapon that is worth it, then great. Most of us do-it-yourselfers can end up with great results with cold blue products and patience. I just ordered and received oxpho blue. I am in the process of doing a Remington model 33, 22 caliber for my son. It should be noted that there are blue products for non porous metals as well as good old steel. If you have prepared the metal correctly and it will not take a cold blue, you might have stainless. My first blue job was on a Mosin Nagant, I paid 89 dollars for it, I am lousy at math but,unless I am hanging it on a wall, never to be oiled again would I pay more than I did for the gun to have it hot blued.

Sooo after a long wait, lets pick this up again. So should one remove the plastic parts from the mags or just avoid them. I went shhoting yesterday and my mags had some light surface rust. I'll clean them and put some oil on them until I re-blue. I'm thinking some disassembly will be required in order to blue the inside. What do you think/know?

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Life is a matter of luck, and the odds in favor of success are in no way enhanced by extreme caution." Kptlt. Erich Topp

Birchwood casey and most cold blues except Oxpho Blue and maybe Blue Wonder actually CAUSE RUST. I learned this the hard way by wrecking an old Ruger 22 auto. They have copper sulphate that gives a nice blue color but propmotes rust. Oxpho has phosphoric acid added that kills rust.

Hey jjk308, have you used Blue Wonder? My bluing has been acceptable with Oxpho just looking for an easier process and better results their web site makes it look simple is it sales hype? I too learned about Birchwood Casey I got it because it was easily available for touch up after a long wet deer season the next year I had rust on my 88s barrel was not pleased I then ordered and used Oxpho for the job and was pleased, I did a complete reblue on an Ithaca model 100 double and the results were fine but the process was painstaking just looking for something less painful.

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Oats that have already been through the horse are always cheaper than oats that haven't !

Buy some of the bake on finishes they offer @ Brownell's or similar type. Easy to do just disassemble, degrease (handle with gloves after so oils from your hand won't contaminate) spray your mag tubes outer and bake in the oven. If the inside of the mag tube is rusting then you'll probably be better off bluing.

cold blue for touching up but if you are gonna spend the money Id have them parkerized then the finish will out last the gun.

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If you have the time....Rust bluing can be done by any home tinkerer and actually produces a superior finish to even hot-salt bluing.

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