How to remove rust

[Musubi1000]

Hi everybody,

I need some help with a rusty handgun in my care. The firearm in question is a W German Sig 220 in .45. It belongs to a friend but asked me to help him keep it from happening again. The slide had acquired an thin orange brown rust over most of the slide( sorry no pics of this crime). I hit it with some kroil and rubbed it out with paper towels. It looks fine at a glance but upon closer inspection I can see it may still have rust on it.

What do you guys do?

[RayB]

Soak it in vinegar for 24 hours. Wash/wipe off rust. Soak in some kind of gun oil for a few min.

[Barbarosa]

Be careful with vinegar - that's how they remove bluing for a refinish. Paper towels are abrasive.

Usually kroil or ballistol soak followed by flitz polish on an old t-shirt is your best bet. If you can't find flitz, get a can of never-dull.

Don't store guns in pistol rugs - a sure way to encourage rust.

[highpower]

I have been caring for abused guns for several decades. Here is what I do....Get some 0000 steel or bronze wool, and using oil for a lubricant, rub gently on the affected area. All the surface rust will come off and you won't hurt the finish. I know that there may be some that claim that steel wool will harm the finish, but in my experience that just isn't so.

[condor]

I've been wondering about this lately. Outside of the normal 'techniques' there's a product called Metal Rescue now being carried by Home Depot, and previously hyped by one of the guys on American Pickers. It removes rust...only. I haven't tried it yet, but since bluing is a controlled rust, I'm wondering if it will remove it also. There are a few collectables I've run across, that going down to bare metal wouldn't be a bad thing....

[AAShooter]

I have been caring for abused guns for several decades. Here is what I do....Get some 0000 steel or bronze wool, and using oil for a lubricant, rub gently on the affected area. All the surface rust will come off and you won't hurt the finish. I know that there may be some that claim that steel wool will harm the finish, but in my experience that just isn't so.

Some claim the rust itself is abrasive so changing your 0000 frequently is advised.

[FeuerFrei]

Flitz and then oily rag rubdown and stored in a silicone sock would be the most efficient way.
Flitz won't rub off the finish and it's hell on rust. I use it on clear plastics too.

[zinfull]

Flitz and then oily rag rubdown and stored in a silicone sock would be the most efficient way.
Flitz won't rub off the finish and it's hell on rust. I use it on clear plastics too.

Be careful if you use Flitz because I was a little heavy handed and strip off the finish on a P .38 once.

[onelonehorseman]

Some claim the rust itself is abrasive so changing your 0000 frequently is advised.

^^ For this reason, it is typically advised NOT to use any oil with the steel wool. Use only clean/dry 0000 steel wool. You can knock the rust dust out of it periodically and change it out as needed.

I have used this method successfully on blued steel.

[k1dude]

What if the gun is so rusty the 3" by 1/2" rust spots bulge like a giant scab? Steel wool or an oily rag don't do a thing.

[FeuerFrei]

Be careful if you use Flitz because I was a little heavy handed and strip off the finish on a P .38 once.

Interesting.
War time production?
I've used Flitz on Colt Python, Winchester lever, Colt Woodsman Match Target with very good results viewed through a magnifying glass. I used it on beater C&R's before I tried it on the better guns mentioned.
*It didn't remove patina on my Parker SG or disturb the case hardening in any way either.

Our mileage does vary.

P38 is a good shooting pistol.

[onelonehorseman]

What if the gun is so rusty the 3" by 1/2" rust spots bulge like a giant scab? Steel wool or an oily rag don't do a thing.

If you have significant corrosion, there will be pitting and material loss evident once the oxidized material is removed. No way to fix that.

If this if on the barrel, and it is deep, you might want to have a 'smith verify that it is still safe to shoot.

[Dimitri A.]

#0000 steel wool, gun oil or CLP, and elbow grease has worked for me in the past on surface rust.

[CWDraco]

I have been caring for abused guns for several decades. Here is what I do....Get some 0000 steel or bronze wool, and using oil for a lubricant, rub gently on the affected area. All the surface rust will come off and you won't hurt the finish. I know that there may be some that claim that steel wool will harm the finish, but in my experience that just isn't so.

by far the best answer. #0000 steel wool is the key to most delicate work.

[razr]

Surface rust will come off with Kleen Lead Away Patches. A bit on the expensive side but works.