1970 Strut rod finish

[Stephen B.]

I thought about trying some blue layout fluid to color the strut rods after bead blasting Has anyone tried this procedure?

[Gene M.]

Re: 1970 Strut rod finish

yes, It works but you need to thin the blue with lacquer thinner or whatever you like. Using a rag to rub it into the metal works better than a brush. Practice it a bit till ya get the look you like. Be advised the rust will come if no coating is put over this. I thought I was the only sick-o that wanted the blued look.

[Stephen B.]

Re: 1970 Strut rod finish

Thanks. I have been playing with a combo of blue layout dye diluted with lacquer thinner. Have you tried this with the bluing on half shafts?

[Dick W.]

Re: 1970 Strut rod finish

Cold blue from one of your friendly gunsmiths

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1970 Strut rod finish

Cold blue from one of your friendly gunsmiths

Heck, you can buy it at Wal-Mart.
Works great - even on car parts.
I used it to recolor some radio shaft "wells" from a 1970 Nova recently. Excellent results.

Maybe someday I'll even try it on a gun.

Patrick

[James W.]

Re: 1970 Strut rod finish

You should take better care of your guns!

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1970 Strut rod finish

You should take better care of your guns!

Bought someone else's used ones.

[Stephen B.]

Re: 1970 Strut rod finish

I'll check out gun bluing also. Thanks,

[Gene M.]

Re: 1970 Strut rod finish

Yes, just a little in the areas where it is welded all around. looks fairly realistic. But again you need to keep it from rusting.The bead blasting needs to be wire wheeled longitude to get rid of the blast surface (small block) and restore grain. A bit of buffing and a bit of stainless steel paint, will keep the center area of the tube looking like raw steel. Ya gotta wipe down the paint with a lacquer soaked rag to eliminate a build up of paint look. Cast spray on the cast ends but not on machined surfaces is a sharp touch. Keep the amount of paint to a minimum. Do the blue dye trick last.

[Dick W.]

Re: 1970 Strut rod finish

Yes, just a little in the areas where it is welded all around. looks fairly realistic. But again you need to keep it from rusting.The bead blasting needs to be wire wheeled longitude to get rid of the blast surface (small block) and restore grain. A bit of buffing and a bit of stainless steel paint, will keep the center area of the tube looking like raw steel. Ya gotta wipe down the paint with a lacquer soaked rag to eliminate a build up of paint look. Cast spray on the cast ends but not on machined surfaces is a sharp touch. Keep the amount of paint to a minimum. Do the blue dye trick last.

??? Struts were hot forged and the only machining was inside the ends where the bushings went.

[Michael G.]

Re: 1970 Strut rod finish

I think they drifted over to half-shafts now Dick.