REMOVING RUST SPOTS ON NICE BLUED FINISH

OLDSTER

OLDSTER

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I know this question has been posted many times, but I couldn't find a thread. SO; I have a nice Model 15-3 with beautiful blued finish I bought from a friend. It has been sitting in a closet for years so has a dozen small rust spots on the barrel and muzzle. I've used 0000 steel wool with oil on a few occasions and I works OK. But have any of you used a process that you prefer ?? Any suggestions would be appreciated by me, and others who may check out this thread . Thanx in advance for your comments :):)
 
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Use COPPER WOOL and Gun Oil. If the rust spot is larger than just a freckle, touch up with Cold Bluing. Always keep a light coat of Oil over the spots. If the bluing wears off (cold bluing is not permanent) re-touch it up. That's about all you can do without refinishing the entire gun.

Since you used STEEL WOOL, wipe the area a few times with a clean rag on every pass to make sure you get all the steel fibers off or else they themselves might start the rust process again.
 
(PLEASE READ THE EDITED PART) Hello "Oldster"

I have another suggestion for you to try: If you have a piece of brass or a copper penny you can eliminate the rust spots by using the edge as a scraper and CLP to remove the spots with minimal damage to the finish. After you have thoroughly cleaned the areas you should try "Prelim", I think it's called (Made and sold with Renascence Wax) please do not use excessive pressure as this product must contain "Pumas" and will remove bluing if you are over zealous. After this application and the wipe to remove all the residue use the "Ren Wax" application and watch the bright blue emerge as you proceed. Both products can be purchased from many sources and seems expensive but the products do go a long way and are worth what they cost, IN MY OPINION! Let Us Know If YOU Try This Suggestion and good luck with the RUST removal!

Charlie Sides just informed me that the PENNY needs to be 1982 or earlier, the post 1982 Pennies contain ZINC and will damage the bluing, hope this is in time to prevent any damage, sorry! Didn't realize we could cheapen the value of a penny!

The "pumas" was intended to be "pumice", my appologies.
 
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Try using 0000 steel wool dry, no oil, on the surface rust. This can cut off the oxidation without damaging the blued finish, so long as the rust has not penetrated the surface of the metal. After removing with dry 0000 steel wool a light application of oil will protect the finish nicely.
 
Frontier 45 rust remover pads, sell them in sd, will not scratch blue, will take rust off so that you cant tell it if it hasn't gone through the blue. If it has will leave a bright spot.
 
Soak overnight or a couple days in KROIL penetrating oil. THEN, use a copper scouring pad, make sure it is 100% copper such as Chore Boy, available at the grocer for $0.99. Use the copper pad wet with Kroil, will not affect the bluing.

Charlie
 
+1 on the Frontier 45 rust remover pad, a customer gave me a M/10 that had been stored in a holster in an attic for 30 yrs., the Frontier 45 pad did a remarkable job removing the rust. Surprisingly there was no damage to the blue and the customer was very pleased with the result.
 
rust spots

H Richard said:
Copper or bronze wool, 0000, and gun oil. Then wipe with acetone to clean and put a coat of Renaissance Wax on the gun.
Click to expand...

I used your suggested method and it worked great. I, unfortunately, do not have a "before" photo; the left side of the cylinder, frame area below the thumb piece, and left side of the barrel at the muzzle had numerous small rust spots. I suspect the revolver ( 15-4) laid in an old leather holster on it's left side in a closet for years. :)

 
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H Richard said:
Copper or bronze wool, 0000, and gun oil. Then wipe with acetone to clean and put a coat of Renaissance Wax on the gun.
Click to expand...

Sir,
Please let me know where you purchased 0000 Bronze and or Copper Wool. When I purchased some Copper Wool, the finest I could find was "Fine" which they say is equivalent in grade to Steel 0 - 00. If you have a source I'd much appreciate it. :)

Thanks!
 
Pumice is a type of volcanic rock. Ground up into a fine powder, it is mildly abrasive. I think car paint rubbing compounds contain it, more used for polishing than removing metal.

Chore Boy is much coarser than 0000, but it works OK for corrosion removal. Instead of using a penny for corrosion removal, try using a brass cartridge case mouth.
 
For more than 50 years I have been using a lead pencil.

An old timer suggested to me to forcefully rub the rust
"freckle" with a pencil point, the point acts as a scraper,
afterwards give the affected area a touch of past wax and
wipe clean.

I have saved many firearms with this technique.

terry
 
raisedin99 said:
For more than 50 years I have been using a lead pencil.

An old timer suggested to me to forcefully rub the rust
"freckle" with a pencil point, the point acts as a scraper,
afterwards give the affected area a touch of past wax and
wipe clean.

I have saved many firearms with this technique.

terry
Click to expand...

That is an interesting method I'd never heard of. I'll try it on an old M&P shooter I've got in the safe :)
 
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