OT cleaning rust of of firearms

Fudpucker · Dec 17, 2009

I just bought some long guns from a lady who needed some cash. the problem is she carried them in her trunk for about a month and they have small spots of what appears to be rust on them. what is the best way to get this off with out doing any more harm to the finish? Opinions please?

Anonymous-0 · Dec 17, 2009

Hoppes No. 9 should do it.

Roy in Ga · Dec 17, 2009

fine steel wool soaked in gun oil rubbed lightly and the bluing will be fine. I have done this many times turns out great. try it on a small spot first till you figure it out.

baghdadchud · Dec 17, 2009

Breakfree and 00000 steel wool.

Fudpucker · Dec 17, 2009

Thanks for the replies. I was thinking I remembered someone tellng me to use steel wool years ago but thought I was crazy. Appreciate the help. Merry Christmas.

old · Dec 17, 2009

Ya I know it is getting old but I use the same thing on my guns as I do in stuck engine etc etc. ATF works well and removes rust and cleans thing up well plus doesn't cost an arm and leg. Ya I clean my guns with it and store them with it in the bores and action and so far they have always done what I need them to do when I need them to do it and hit where I want them to hit when I need them to hit the target. Guess that is why I have 5 deer in my freezer this year

kendak · Dec 17, 2009

as a long time smith my advice is to keep the steel wool away from your gun...no matter how fine you WILL be able to ruin the blue...try MOTHERS brand chrome polish that you can buy at any auto parts store...this stuff will take the rust off & leave a protected coating....have used it for years on the custom varmit rifles that I build & it works ... take care ..Kent

Anonymous-0 · Dec 17, 2009

A gunsmith taught my Dad to use the LEAD of a #2 pencil (Not the Eraser) to rub on the rusty spot, then put some light oil on the spot.

Don McCullough · Dec 18, 2009

You have some good answers for the rust I just want to add--if you're rather new to guns--the oil to use is Hoppes or other GUN oil and just a light film. Excess oil attracts more dust and can damage the wood.

Humidity, salt water air, sweaty hands and blood from game are the main rust causers. Even with a light coat (film) of oil guns need to be looked at from time to time. Same for the inside of the barrel and special "bore light" for this. To be thorough--inside the action needs light coat of oil where possible too. Well...so does the chamber where the cartridge feeds into but here best to remove nearly all oil before shooting so cartridge brass can get a better grip on the walls of chamber when fired.

Gun guru · Dec 18, 2009

Oh He!! just hold them up to a belt sander and that rust comes right off.

Seriously, lots of oil and a buffing cloth. I have an old .22LR that has some rust pits in it and I was able to use lots of oil and get most of the rust out. There are a couple of pits that are bad and I may need to use a polishing bit on a dremel to remove them.

Karl in MD · Dec 18, 2009

#9 and a Scotchbrite, applied VERY gently. Avoid the ATF and WD-40. They both tend to soak into the stock and soften the wood.

John Harmon · Dec 18, 2009

You say "Long guns"? If you mean as in Muzzle loaded then it depends on how much rust. Muzzle loaders traditionally used a finish on metal called browning and this is actually nothing more than a rust covering that has been arrrested or stopped in its action if you prefer. A lot of different concotions have been used and the best source of info on this is at Track of The Wolf.com Site.Dixie Gun works is another source of Gun care info concerning rust.Rust is a parasite to Metal and it depends on how far advanced the rust is for the proper treatment to stop it. If it has pitted the gun metal ,well steel wooling in a straight line until removed and then rebluing is one option. Above all do not machine sand it ,do not use acids, a 000 steel wool and some Hoppes Rust Remover and rub in a straight line along with rebluing or browning of the area and then a final total rebluing or browning may produce a nice finish,it all depends on the extent of the rusting process. The foremost practice after repair is to keep them lightly oiled and in dry storage,but you knew that I think.

300 Randy · Dec 18, 2009

If you loose to much bluing buy a Blue Wonder Bluing kit and refinish it. You can get it in a couple of different colors. Ive used it and it worked good. You can look it up on the net.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 18, 2009

I expect the reason you have 5 deer in your freezer doesn't have a whole lot to do with how good ATF is for guns. Probably oil is oil etc. For storage grease is better. Does it matter? To listen to you guys talk your guns will be your Pres' worry soon anyway. You may have 5 deer in freezer 1) because you know how to shoot, 2) because you have lots of deer in your area and most likely 3) you had room in your freezer. Don't attribute it to gun care. This from a Canuck who doesn't think your Pres wants your guns (or would know what to do with them if he had them)!

CJ_1080 · Dec 18, 2009

If they are old, rare, or collector firearms in any way, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REFINISH IN ANY WAY. If you need to know what ya got go to a gun store or range. If none of the above apply you can buy kits to re-blue or re-finish them from cabellas or gander mountain.

ncpapaul · Dec 18, 2009

The edge of a penny with some BreakFree or TriFlow will remove small rust spots and leaves some dark color behind. Paul

Anonymous-0 · Dec 18, 2009

I agree with Karl from MD, don't put WD-40 on your firearms!!!! Will definately ruin your wood, been there and done that. Find you some Rem Oil, Wal-Mart sells it in the sporting goods section.

glennster · Dec 18, 2009

an old gunsmith that i go to uses hoppes gun oil on a piece of a brown paper bag. buff the rust off with that. not very aggressive so it wont damage the bluing, but will get the rust off.

eastexan · Dec 18, 2009

Get 'er done with PAINT! Just kidding, of course.

Actually, I did paint a couple of old guns that I kept in the barn. I had them out there for varmints or snakes, and they were seldom used.
But because of the high humidity, every year or two I would have to steel wool the surface rust off the barrels and coat them with light oil.

After doing it a bunch of times, one day I got aggravated at seeing them rusty again, and got a can of Krylon spray paint and after cleaning off the rust, I sprayed the barrels black.

After it dryed it looked pretty darn good, with a smooth black surface.
And after many years, they've never rusted again.

Now I just give 'em a dusting every now and then.

Ronnie

S2710 · Dec 18, 2009

KRUSS1 You are right. No1 he doesn't want our guns. No2 he wouldn't know what to do with them if he had them. But what he is doing is making ammunition harder to get and more expensive to buy so the gun will be worthless if you don't have bullets.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 18, 2009

Hey hoser, before you talk about the US and the "your guns will never be confiscated" crapp, why don't you tell us what it's like to buy a pistoli in Canada, eh?

Bus Driver · Dec 18, 2009

Chore Boy copper scrubbers are much gentler on the bluing than is steel wool. I try the gentle way first.

OT cleaning rust of of firearms

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