Crossword clues for bluing
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Blue \Blue\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blued; p. pr. & vb. n. Bluing.] To make blue; to dye of a blue color; to make blue by heating, as metals, etc.
Bluing \Blu"ing\, n.
The act of rendering blue; as, the bluing of steel.
--Tomlinson.Something, as indigo or other preparations, used to give a bluish tint, especially to white clothing when being washed.
Wiktionary
n. 1 A substance used in laundry to whiten clothes; blue 2 Any of several processes to protect steel against rust vb. (present participle of blue English)
WordNet
Wikipedia
Bluing may refer to:
- Bluing (fabric), blue dye used to improve the appearance of fabrics
- Bluing (hair), blue dye used to improve the appearance of hair
- Mrs. Stewart's Bluing, brand of fabric and hair bluing
- Bluing (steel), passivation process in which steel is partially protected against rust
- "bluing" of machine parts to check for tolerances, see engineer's blue
Bluing, laundry blue, dolly blue or washing blue is a household product used to improve the appearance of textiles, especially white fabrics. Used during laundering, it adds a trace of blue dye (often synthetic ultramarine, sometimes Prussian blue) to the fabric.
Bluing is a passivation process in which steel is partially protected against rust, and is named after the blue-black appearance of the resulting protective finish. True gun bluing is an electrochemical conversion coating resulting from an oxidizing chemical reaction with iron on the surface selectively forming magnetite (FeO), the black oxide of iron. Black oxide provides minimal protection against corrosion, unless also treated with a water-displacing oil to reduce wetting and galvanic action. A distinction can be made between traditional bluing and some other more modern black oxide coatings, although bluing is a subset of black oxide coatings.
In comparison, rust, the red oxide of iron (FeO), undergoes an extremely large volume change upon hydration; as a result, the oxide easily flakes off causing the typical reddish rusting away of iron. "Cold", "Hot", "Rust Blue" and "Fume Blue" are oxidizing processes simply referred to as bluing.
"Cold" bluing is generally a selenium dioxide based compound that colours steel black, or more often a very dark grey. It is a difficult product to apply evenly, offers minimal protection and is generally best used for small fast repair jobs and touch-ups.
The "Hot" process is an alkali salt solution, referred to as "Traditional Caustic Black", that is typically done at an elevated temperature, . This method was adopted by larger firearm companies for large scale, more economical bluing. It does provide good rust resistance which is improved with the use of oil.
"Rust Bluing" and "Fume Bluing" provide the best rust and corrosion resistance as the process continually converts any metal that is capable of rusting into magnetite (FeO). Treating with an oiled coating enhances the protection offered by the bluing. This process is also the only process safely used to re-blue vintage shotguns. Many double barrelled shotguns are soft soldered (Lead) / silver brazed together and many of the parts are attached by that method also. The higher temperatures of the other processes as well as their caustic nature will weaken the soldered joints and make the gun hazardous to use.
Bluing can also be done in a furnace, for example for a sword or other item traditionally made by a blacksmith or specialist such as a weaponsmith. Blacksmith products to this day may occasionally be found made from blued steel by traditional craftsmen in cultures and segments of society who use that technology either by necessity or choice.
Usage examples of "bluing".
It wasn't a deep cut in the metal, just a place where we'd sort of cut through the bluing on the steel.
I bought a walnut stock blank, scope mounts, sling-swivels, a sling, a used four-power scope, some do-it-yourself bluing, and a jar of stock finish.
I have turned very gray--Liddy reminded me of it, only yesterday, by saying that a little bluing in the rinse-water would make my hair silvery, instead of a yellowish white.
I said sharply, "I'm not going to use bluing at my time of life, or starch, either.
And, if I recall correctly, you must be nearly out of Morning Glory Laundry Bluing, and that was a particular favorite of yours, was it not?
And I have additionally stove blacking, laundry bluing, wash powders, and these very fine clothespins that have a patent pending for the superior spring mechanism that they employ.
A man's shirt and drawers, two towels gray for want of bluing, a little shirt and a nightgown and pair of stockings--and, directly in front of Marie, a small pair of blue overalls trimmed with red bands, the blue showing white fiber where the color had been scrubbed out of the cloth, the two knees flaunting patches sewed with long irregular stitches such as a man would take.
Overhead the sky was a deep periwinkle blue, as if a celestial housecleaner had spilled a bottle of bluing agent to the four comers of the earth.