My 940 got rusty!

[pred]

I guess this should serve as a good example of what can happen to a Smith that was carried in hot and sweaty weather, It was carried for about two weeks.
I took the grips off just to see how well a new set of grips would feel on the 940-1, And this is what I found!

Concidering that this is a stainless one that I had wiped down with oil about 3 months ago, And then carried during some darn hot weather in an IWB leather holster.
I wanted to share this because so many ask about finish durability, Well this is what can happen,
Now I am wondering what I can coat the grip frame with to prevent this from happening again? I cleaned it off and wiped it down with a synthetic automitive oil, And started carrying my 340 sc instead in this hot weather.
This could happen to you,
I cant imagine what it would have looked like if had been one of my older model 36s and didnt happen to check it till fall? I dont usually pull the grips to do a monthly cleaning on my carry gun,,, BUT I DO NOW ! ! ! !
Just wanted to share
Peter.

 

[pred]

I guess this should serve as a good example of what can happen to a Smith that was carried in hot and sweaty weather, It was carried for about two weeks.
I took the grips off just to see how well a new set of grips would feel on the 940-1, And this is what I found!

Concidering that this is a stainless one that I had wiped down with oil about 3 months ago, And then carried during some darn hot weather in an IWB leather holster.
I wanted to share this because so many ask about finish durability, Well this is what can happen,
Now I am wondering what I can coat the grip frame with to prevent this from happening again? I cleaned it off and wiped it down with a synthetic automitive oil, And started carrying my 340 sc instead in this hot weather.
This could happen to you,
I cant imagine what it would have looked like if had been one of my older model 36s and didnt happen to check it till fall? I dont usually pull the grips to do a monthly cleaning on my carry gun,,, BUT I DO NOW ! ! ! !
Just wanted to share
Peter.

 

[JayCeeNC]

That's why it's called stain-LESS steel and not stain-PROOF steel!

 

[akviper]

Stainless guns rust too, it just takes a few days longer. Some try to blame it on synthetic grips but I've had to clean up guns with wood grips too. I recently bought a new looking Smith and found rusting an pitting under the wood grips. The original owner took great care of the visible portion of the gun but apparently never removed the grips. A carry gun should be wiped down every day and lubed under the grips at least weekly. Check those screws every time you clean it too.

 

[JumpinJack]

Use a Scott bright pad to remove the rust. Get some Rennisance Wax and apply a coating under the grips before you go out into the sweat zone again.

 

[Bullseye Smith]

After you clean it put some white grease on it. This will help seal the grip area, and will stay in place.

 

[pinkymingeo]

I live in a climate where tools rust while you're using them. Reloading dies turn red in front of your eyes. I only buy stainless and alloy guns. Under the grips I spray CRC Heavy Duty Corrosion Inhibitor, or LPS3, whichever I have around at the moment. Both leave a heavy, waxy film which will clean off instantly with WD40, but stays on otherwise. You will not get rust on a stainless gun treated with either product.

 

[Smithist]

Pred, what kind of oil?

 

[BigBoku]

Try This and you will be very pleased, best stuff I have found.

CorrosionX 4 Guns

 

[Dale53]

Motor oil is a lousy rust preventative. Just look inside the lower end of you engine some time if you don't believe me. One of the absolute best rust proofing oils is Dexron II or III Transmission fluid (again, look inside your auto transmission and you will find it looking like new after 20,000 miles).

Rig is also quite good and in fact, was the world standard for rust proofing guns for years.

Most light oils do NOT do a good job of rust prevention - Break Free is good enough the military uses it. I have used it at Friendship (the Laughery Valley humidity is world renown for rusting muzzle loaders) for years with excellent results. Birchwood Casey Sheath also works well and leaves a waxy (not oily) deposit that repels rust VERY well.

FWIW
Dale53

 

[pred]

The reason I used sone synthetic motor oil is because when I detail strip a gun, I put all the parts in the synthetic and slowly heat to 200* and allow to cool to 100* It is amazing how all the crud falls off, and the luster of the frame is, Well, deep and full of luster.
Thinking about your suggestions, I have some parafin wax spray for snow plows whick keeps my off road gear free of rust for an entire season,,, I will give that a try!
And I will pick up what is suggested above and give it a try as well!
Thanks
Peter.
I am aware that Stainless will rust, I just didnt think it would show up so fast, And the 940-1 apon buying it and pulling the side plate to look around was so darn clean, I didnt detail strip it, and heat in oil,, I really didnt do anything to it before carrying it except run several rounds through it to ensure it's reliability, Now I know, Always treat the area under the grips generously!

 

[Guest]

You didn't mention what type of Stocks you had on your 940 and that can add to the issue of Rusting. Rubber can act to hold in the moisture and cause more problems but they do make these small guns easier to handle which is worth the bother. Corrosion X is a fairly new product but it has proven itself to be a very good one. I used to sell Pachmayr Rubber Stocks and would always give the inside of them a coating of Break Free; which, of course, was transferred to the areas where they contacted the frame.

 

[Frizzman]

I live near the coast where the air is so salty a brick will rust. I also sweat profusely when I am hot. Those two facts are why I always take the grips off anything I carry at the end of the day and wipe it down. I know there are some corrosion reducing oils and so forth but I just don't trust that they will do the job more than a day. The only advantage to "stainless" for me is that it usually won't turn orange before I can wipe it off at the end of the day...There is no substitute for daily maintenance, particularly on a weapon that your life might depend on. Its just like checking my motorcycle before a ride. It is a pain sometimes but the thought of a failure at 60 mph is really scary!!!