Taking a light rust off a Phosphate finish?

[pitfighter]

Have a light "rust" build up on a phosphate finish - there is zero pitting, just surface build up.

I have seen this finish rub off, and I don't want to hit this with 000 wool until i hear some of the expert opinions out there.

This is quite a valuable part, and I would really rather not harm it, but I do want to loosen it off a little.





The interior of the grip stick is what the finish was originally, a lovely gray matte finish.

[LONGRANGER777]

No steel wool!!! Cotton cloth and clr. Wipe down and the rust will come off.

[LONGRANGER777]

I meant clp...

[jl7422]

I would use Kroil on a cotton cloth.

[81turbota]

Seconds for Kroil on very light rust like that. It's magical stuff!

[Eljay]

Same here. Kroil and let it sit for a bit and hit it with a cloth. Same idea as the steel wool technique but more gentle.

[pitfighter]

Thanks guys - Kano Kroil "the oil that creeps" ordered from Amazon

That's great - the phosphate finishes are so delicate on a lot of these old guns.
Trying to preserve it in anywhere near good shape, can be quite a challenge - Kroil it is.
My experience has been with blued parts which are quite tough, or no finish, single layer of lacquer, which, you just swab and leave alone.
This particular rifle has a lot of phosphate on it.

Edit - Holy smokes taking these bakelite (compressed wood and resin) grips off is scary (as original grips they are irreplacable - period) - - they are absolutely forced into place - progress has been millimeter by millimeter, very slowly - they came off - the finish beneath is VERY lightly phosphate coated not like the interior of the grip stick. Strange.

[Enfield47]

I agree, use Kroil and let it sit on there for a while (maybe overnight) and most of the rust will wipe off with a cloth. WD40 also works well too and neither should harm the finish.

[GunKraut]

You seriously have a late series Type G in pieces? Holy cow!

[pitfighter]

You seriously have a late series Type G in pieces? Holy cow!

Good eye -

It came with no internals, all of the internals (semi-only) including hand-woven Germanic factory-style springs, have been hand-made by Estes Adams, so it is now 922R compliant.

[TRAP55]

Jess, Kroil and a piece of burlap. Kroil over night so it gets under the rust, burlap for same effect with less elbow grease. "After" and assembled pics are required!

[pitfighter]

Thank you - - for my own private reasons, I no longer post pictures of anything on-line other than bolt gun or "ten-round-mag-only" shooters - parts, ammunition and accessories only.

I'll PM/email pics to you - of course

[GunKraut]

Pit, a while ago you were asking about the types/tints of phosphate finish used late in the war. Can I deduct from there that you have been rewelding a dewat receiver?

[smle-man]

A drop of light weight sewing machine oil and the edge of a 5 cent coin rubbed on the rusty crust will take the build up off and not touch the finish around it. There will be a bright spot left were the rust ate the finish off under it most likely. Make sure you use an older coin, I think the newest coins have changed their composition and are harder.

[emcon5]

Start with the least aggressive, gun oil (or Kroil if you have it) on a cotton rag is the best place to start. For mild surface rust, you probably won't have to go any farther.