OXPHO-BLUE® Reviews & Ratings

Originally developed for the occasional bluer who is not equipped to completely polish a gun prior to bluing, Oxpho Blue - because of its ease of application and remarkably superior results - has become a favorite of the professional gunsmith as well. With Oxpho-Blue, all you need do in most cases, is dampen a piece of cotton flannel and give the area a good rubbing. The chemical goes through the oil on the gun, removes thin rust and blues the steel underneath. No after-rust. For looks, the final finish was not intended to approach the beauty of the well-polished, hot-blued gun. It has developed, however, that in the hands of a careful craftsman, not only is the Oxpho-Blue finish beautiful, but it is also more durable and weather resistant than any other known chemical finish. Oxpho-Blue has other outstanding features worthy of note:

Absolutely no after-rust.
Phosphate-like surface forms under the blue.
Rust removing qualities of the solution, making it unnecessary to remove mild rust in the usual manner.
"Wetting" characteristics of the solution, giving it the ability to penetrate oil, dirt, etc., on the surface of the gun; blue the metal underneath; remove rust and dirt; leave the gun blued and ready for oiling.
Beauty and high durability of the finish: vigorous rubbing with No. 0 steel wool is one of our favorite application methods - the more rubbing, the more brilliant it comes and, since abrasion is part of the process, normal contact from gun cases, brush and clothing won't wear your bluing. (Note: It is possible to get a surface so dense with Oxpho-Blue that water will puddle on it!)
For Neighbor Kid and Mr. Average Sportsman, a beat-up gun can be made to look quite presentable by following this recent application technique; dampen a shoe shine cloth with Oxpho-Blue and blue the gun with a shoe shine motion - without taking too much trouble to remove old dirt, grease, rust, etc. This particular gimmick actually obsoletes all other kinds of bluing for retail sale, for any youngster can make his old man's gun look quite presentable. For gun club members, neighborhood shooters, etc., one bottle takes care of the lot. (The rub-on features works wonders on tools and instruments which have been blackened and show bright along the edges: just dampen a cloth with Oxpho-Blue, rub the bright areas briskly and they are as black as before, but tougher.)

SPECS: 4 fl. oz. (118ml), or 32 fl. oz.

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Reviews Summary

Overall, customers are very impressed with OXPHO-BLUE® for its effectiveness and ease of use in cold bluing, yielding professional-quality finishes even for beginners. While many praise its reliability and helpful results, a few express disappointment with a recent formula change affecting consistency. However, the positives overwhelmingly dominate the feedback.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Effectiveness and Quality

85%

The product is consistently described as highly effective, with many users reporting impressive, professional-quality results. Customers find that OXPHO-BLUE® restores or enhances the appearance of firearms and other metal items, producing a deep, rich finish that rivals factory bluing.

Ease of Use

72%

Reviewers frequently mention the product's user-friendly application process, noting that it is suitable for both novices and experienced users. Many appreciate the straightforward instructions and the quick results, making it an attractive option for touch-ups or complete refinishing.

Preparation Is Key

60%

Numerous users emphasize the importance of properly preparing the metal surfaces before application. Effective cleaning and degreasing are mentioned as crucial steps that significantly impact the final results, highlighting the product's need for careful prep work.

Concerns About Formula Changes

20%

A smaller group of reviewers indicates they have noticed variability with the current formula, leading to lighter or less smooth finishes compared to previous experiences. While not widespread, this concern suggests that some customers feel that quality may be inconsistent with newer batches.

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4 oz Oxoho Blue

After watching a couple of Youtube videons on this product I decided to restore my old Model 33 Remington 22. Followed direction sanded all metal to clean bare surface and set barrel out in HOT sun 100 degs and got it hot. applied 5-7 coats with cotton cloth and just wiped between coats with cotton towel It came out as close to perfect as I had hoped.Beautiful job for a FIRST timer. I certainly would recommend it. There are other products out there but this worked for me. THANKS

lives up to its reputation

have only used this twice but it is much easier to work than other brands.i obtained a beautiful black finnish on both occasions though the product had weekend alot by the second time and i had to work it alot harder.seems once the bottle is opened the chemicals are activated and deteriate rather quickly so i will be purchasing smaller quantities now.overall i really like this.

Impressed

This product is incredible. It is easy to use and works great. I re-blued an entire .22 barrel and touched up some wear spots on the receiver in a matter of 15 minutes. I sanded the barrel down bare, since it had a lot of rust on it, then buffed it quickly with #00 steel wool and then wiped down with alcohol. I wiped the Oxpho Blue on and let it sit for a minute, then wiped it off and buffed again with steel wool. I had to go over a few areas a second time. It looks like a brand new barrel, and the areas I touched up on the reciever matched perfectly. Way to go Brownells.

As easy to use as reputed.

I thought bluing was only for the pros. I was recommended this product and of course I researched the heck out of it to find any negatives. The pros far out-weighed the cons in the reviews so I went with it. For a first-timer I would say I had very respectable results. I far exceeded my expectations! I reviewed some videos on youtube to get any tips or tricks and learned metal prep is key. I found using acetone as a cleaner and moderate heat (120-125 deg) to make the metal more receptive, the gun barrel took the oxpho blue solution very well on the first pass. I probably reapplied the product 4-5 more times until I got the gun-metal black I was looking for. The barrel looks great and I am looking forward to my next project! Thanks for a great product!

BEST alternative to a professional job

Re-blued a shotgun made from somewhere between 1950-1965 (no serial number). Made the gun looks amazing. It didn't look perfect, but pretty close. Someone with a little more skill than me probably could have made it perfect. I had never done this before. Over a month later... no sign of any rust. Will show wear easier than a professial job on new gun, but worth it for the price. Buying more for another gun now.

Best Bluing I have found

Over the years I have tried many brands of gun bluing including liquid, gel and paste types. They all give about the same results, which are okay for touch up, but splotchy if used for a total re-blue. The first time I used Oxpho-Blue for a touch up I was very impressed, so much so my next project was to completely re-blue an old single barrel shotgun. The finished blue job looked as good as many professional jobs. I have found it is best to start with a wire wheel to strip off the old bluing and/or rust and finish up with a cloth buffing wheel with compound to polish the steel. I then spray down the steel with a can of brake cleaner, which is acetone. This leaves the steel clean and oil free. Apply Oxpho following the directions and rub over the areas several times. Be sure to wear two pairs of vinyl gloves because this stuff will stain the skin. After the steel has taken the blue I rub everything down with a thin coat of wheel bearing grease and let it set overnight. This protects the finish from rust and seems to cause the bluing to darken more. The next day I rub off the grease with paper towels leaving a beautiful finish. One 4oz bottle will re-blue several guns.

Awesome!

I bought a old, used barrel as a spare for my Remington 870 that was originally a gloss blue finish, and I wanted it to match the matte black finish of my gun. I had a friend sandblast the barrel to a matte finish, I wiped it down with acetone, wiped on oxpho-blue with a cleaning patch, rubbed it in with steel wool, wiped it clean, let it dry, repeat x3... I can't tell the difference between the factory barrel and my refinished barrel!

Worked great for novice

First, I've never "blued" anything before, but after doing some necessary filing on my revolver I had to do something to reblue the surface I just took down to bare metal. I cleaned the surface with some solvent, and using a Q-Tip was able to keep the Oxpho Blue where I wanted it. For never having done this before, I'm very pleased with the color match and the results -- I was able to blend it right in.

4 OZ. OXPHO BLUE by BROWNELLS

This stuff is fantastic. I restored a 1929 Hercules 410 shotgun that was completely covered in surface rust with slight pitting on the barrel. As far as application, I bead blasted all metal parts and followed the directions on the bottle. For best results, the devil is in the 0000 steel wool polishing details. Two hours were required for the tight spots. A light gun oil application really brought the finish to near perfection. The gun had a walnut stock which was stripped and stained dark walnut and top-coated with Satin finish urethane. Step back two feet and the gun looks new. I could not be more pleased.

By far the best cold blue

Face it, no cold blue beats a good hot dip or slow rust blue. I have tried almost every cold blue and touch up finish out there and by far oxpho blue is the best. I have the best results if I rough up the surface with 0 steel wool with a little oil then dry the gun with paper towels prior to applying the oxpho blue. I find that it blends in the best with the origional blue this way. Burnish with fine steel wool after appliation for best blending. I collect early 20th century handguns and this is great for touch up work on those that I do not keep in "origional condition". A Must for any shooter.