Amazing. Bluest finish possible...
There are a few tricks that you can use with this, to get an absolutely amazing finish. Heat the metal with a space heater between coats. Always use a fresh 2x2" cloth to apply (fresh + Oxpho adds to the finish, whereas used cloth + Oxpho seems to take away the finish). Patience--it will darken. Biggest hint for a blue finish: between coats, rub with clean cloth with BreakFree CLP oil--it is the oil that allows the color to come through--this sounds strange, but it is key. It will happen right before your eyes when you add the CLP. Alternatively, using Eezox instead will strip the blue and turn the metal a dark charcoal instead. I think Hoppe's solvent will turn it even darker yet. Pretty cool to have this choice. Bottom line: this stuff gave me the bluest-black finish I have ever seen in person. My beat-down CZ82 now is a glossy blue-black that is almost too pretty to shoot. Amazing.
Recommended
While this will not look as good as a professional refinish, I think you can't do any better for a cold blue. Very easy to do, doesn't take long, looks good, and doesn't wear off like most other cold blues. Great for touching up glossy blue finishes like found on vintage rifles & shotguns that have been well worn in the field.
Pleasently suprised
Purchased this based upon comments re: gun restoration in SNG magazine for one of my pending projects. I found it was easy to use and provided the type of finish needed for the old girl. I've used any number of cold finishes in the past and I think I've found one that will be my mainstay in the years to come.
Works Great
I have been using this creme for several years with great success. I highly recommend it.
A5 restore
Pretty well satisfied with product.
However instructions for use are a little vague and a You tube search yeilded various methods of applying.
Trial and error was my final result.
My gun has rust freckles that show through the blue.
On clean shiny metal would yield better results.
OK, but not as good as original Oxpho-Blue
Only purchased it because cant get the original stuff except in a 2 lifetime supply size
Would you recommend this?
Yes, I would recommend to a friend
Good product
I use the product for touch-ups mostly. With proper preparation to the metal this bites quickly and leaves a good, durable finish.
Good cold blue
Reblued two old field guns with this and have used other cold blues and this was a bit more work/coats, but did a little test of my own and it does a good job protecting from sanding/abuse. It was slow to act as compared to others i've used, but this is the first time i've used a creme vs. a liquid, but resulted in a nice dark blue after about 4 applications, blended well, and will go pretty dark with multiple applications. No detectable smell, but will turn your fingers blue/green. I'll try the liquid on my next project and will probably benefit from having both available. Would use/buy again.
good but not great...
I used this on a TC pistol barrel after removing the front site and filling in the holes. This barrel comes from the factory with a very deep high gloss blue so I prepped using a buffing wheel and worked to a high gloss finish. I originally thought I could blend the new finish with the old; wrong! I must have put 2 dozen coats of this on and it became obvious it would never go as dark as the factory finish so I stripped the entire barrel and tried again. While the finish is definitely not as good as the factory finish, it's still pretty good and, without the original to compare, looks pretty close to a factory finish. It's very similar to a old Rem 1100 that I have and will probably use it to do touch up on that gun. On the other hand, I didn't have any other troubles including rusting if left on too long, maybe something to do with the alloy and maybe why I couldn't get it as dark as I wanted. I found running under hot water to be the best way to warm it up prior to a coat and it makes a huge difference to do this. I used it on a barrel that isn't one of my favorites, but probably wouldn't use it on others unless there were no other options (just wouldn't make a change that requires rebluing)
Oxpho creme
I build my own rifles from military surplus actions. I have a couple that are blued entirley with oxpho. you can get great results from warming up the metal a bit with a propane torch first, it seems to hold up better that way. To put it in a nutshell oxpho creme is simply the best cold blue on the market. I have tried many others and none of them are as easy to apply or come out as dark. For thos who want to take "do it yourselfer bluing to the next level I would suggest Dicropan IM. But as with any bluing, metal prep is the real key..