Can I clean rust from pearls?

[Andy Griffith]

Is it possible?

I pulled out a pair of K-frame square butt pearls that I've had for a while, and they don't have the first chip out of them, but they do have a fair amount of rusting around the back.

I've tried plain old soap, warm water and a soft toothbrush with minimal effect. I also did use my fingernail to scrape off what I could. Seems some rust has "soaked" into the grips, but I know better than to scrape with anything that will loosen any piece of the silica...unless underwater. I'm a bit scared to even try it underwater.

 

[Pisgah]

I'll be interested to see if you get an answer. I have a little nickeled H&R topbreak .32 S&W with real pearls that have the same problem. Oddly, the gun itself is almost mint, and the spot where the obvious rust is on/in the grips is pristine on the gun -- I can only wonder if they were transferred on to the gun many moons ago from a less-nice gun.

If anyone's curious, yes, I have fired it with low-end reloads and it is a hoot to shoot -- amazingly accurate. If someone could cobble up a modern copy fit enough for one of the .32 Magnums, it would be a peach of a little hideout gun.

 

[DHENRY]

Andy,
I had a similar problem with some ancient m.o.p.'s.
Used hydrogen peroxide on a well-soaked Q-Tip (after the soap and water to remove oil).
Worked very well indeed.
Don

 

[Milton]

Andy,there is a product out there that is used to remove iron stains chemically.It is called Super Iron Out. I have never used this product as I have always used oxalic acid to remove iron stains.I would be afraid to use the oxalic acid as I am not sure what reaction you will get between this organic acid and the calcium carbonate that makes up the pearl grips.If you are willing to try,the Super Iron out may work diluted if you work slowly but I would try it out on a spot you cannot see!

 

[borntoraisehogs]

Try some Flitz . I have used it to remove green from stag knife handles .

 

[Bruce51]

I have never tried this on pearl grips but I use lemonjuice and salt to remove rust from fabric. The salt is just an abrasive for the fabric.

I have removed stains from marble by making a poultice of calcium carbonate and hydrogen peroixde. You can crush a tums for a small amount of CC just don't use the colored ones.

On the marble the perioxide was 10% so probably not good for pearl or your hands as it will burn the skin..

The lemon juice has just enough acid to dissolve rust but be sure to test for any problems before trying.

Bruce

 

[JSR III]

Try soaking them over night using Polident denture tablets. It is used to remove blueberry and coffee stains in dentures without harm so should work on your stocks with no damage.

 

[walnutred]

If anyone's curious, yes, I have fired it with low-end reloads and it is a hoot to shoot -- amazingly accurate. If someone could cobble up a modern copy fit enough for one of the .32 Magnums, it would be a peach of a little hideout gun.

I agree. I have a couple little top break hammerless revolvers and wonder why someone does not make a copy in 32 ACP or with a longer cylinder in 32 Mag.