NEWExplore America's campgrounds on our interactive map

How to Remove Gun Bluing

Written By
Ryan Maxwell
Ryan Maxwell
Sep 7, 2009
2 minute read

There are several reasons someone would remove the bluing from their firearm. It can be done so scratches in the frame can be buffed out without having to do spot repairs to the existing bluing. It can also be done to change the finish from blued to parkerized or plated finish. It can also be done just to repair an uneven blued finish. It is possible to remove the bluing from your firearm with products you probably already have in your home.

    Disassemble the entire firearm, and set all blued pieces together. Do not just field strip it.

    Wipe down all blued parts with brake cleaner or alcohol to remove any oils and dirt. Set them in the glass dish.

    Pour enough white vinegar to completely cover all of your gun parts. The parts will begin to turn orange after approximately 15 minutes. Don't worry, the rust appearing is only from oxidation of the metals in the bluing.

    Remove the parts from the vinegar every 20 to 25 minutes and wipe down the oxidation. Continue to soak the parts until all bluing is removed.

    Remove the parts from the vinegar once all bluing has been removed and dispose of the vinegar.

    Return the parts to the glass dish and rinse them under the faucet to remove any remaining vinegar.

    Dry the parts off as best as you can, and then place them on the foil-lined cookie sheet.

    Heat the oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for about 20 minutes.

    Remove the parts from the oven and let them cool.

    Inspect the parts for any rust spots, and rub the entire part down with the extra fine steel wool. This will ensure you get an even finish when you refinish your firearm.

    Coat the parts in a light layer of gun grease to prevent any rust from forming. The grease can be quickly removed before refinishing.

    Items you will need

    • Brake cleaner or isopropyl alcohol

    • White vinegar

    • Deep glass dish

    • Clean rags

    • Foil-lined cookie sheet

    • Extra fine steel wool

    • Gun grease

References

Ryan Maxwell

Ryan Maxwell began his professional freelance writing career in 2009. He is a former U.S. Army military police officer, as well as a published poet and photographer. While attending Finlandia University, Maxwell majored in criminal justice…

Sponsored
Gone Outdoors Logo

Explore the outdoors with the best source for fishing, boating, camping, hunting, firearms, electronics, trailers and towing, maintenance and much more.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2026 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.