Rust Pitting and Restoration

[BadMatt]

How do you folks recommend handling rust / pitting on the barrel and receiver? This Shotty is well used but could be returned to glory. Will re-blueing get rid of these problems? Thanks!

[Gryff]

Tagged for future reference. I have a functionally perfect 1960s Winchester 94, but it has some moderate rust pits on the receiver and barrel from poor storage by the previous owner.

[Tom-ADC]

Look up Blue Wonder on google, they have a gun cleaner you use with 0000 steel wool a little heat removes rust but not bluing, but if used with scotch rite it will remove bluing.

[Tom-ADC]

I've used their products for touch up works great.

http://www.bluewonder.us/BlueWonderGunBlue.html#Video

[Dozen Gauge]

Stripping the finish will still show any rust pitting. If you have access to a small home compressor and hand held sandblast gun (cheap Harbor Freight gun works great) use some 30 grit sand(or free beach sand) to remove the finish/rust. Clean with a spary can of brake cleaner and then paint with an AlumaHyde II color of your choice from Brownell's.

[Tom-ADC]

D G very nice, thanks for the tip!

[mjsweims]

If the pitting is deep enough you won't get rid of it. If it is only in the bluing you might. Think of deep pitting as engraving on the surface - when engraving gets reblued it does not fill in.

[trapperjohn]

Also, if the rust isn't too deep, it can be remediated pretty well (invisible to the eye anyway) by using 00 aluminum wool instead of steel wool. The aluminum wool is so much softer (as a material), it won't harm the surrounding finish at all.
I had similar issue with my vintage Wingmaster, and removed the rust completely using Remoil (or WD-40, or Liquid Wrench, or any penetrating lubricant) and the aluminum wool.

[ckprax]

I have an 870 that was neglected and had some rust on the receiver. I had it sandblasted and duracoated, looks great now.

[Squirly]

Sandblast and cold blue. I had major pitting and rust. Pots still there but no rust. 1958 model 12 12gauage