Taking off surface rust on blued pistols

[Bushwack44]

Flitz liquid polish (http://www.amazon.com/Flitz-LQ-04535...9N02EYMRC54AVN) does a great job cleaning hard to reach and heavily carboned areas on stainless steel pistols (majority of my firearms are stainless steel).

I recently purchased a Beretta 950 Jetfire (blued) that has some surface rust underneath the grips. I know from a past experience that the above mentioned Flitz polish can fade the blue. I was wondering if anyone has successfully used Flitz paste (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...23860_70668520) on a blued pistol?

[4DSJW]

I have never used Flitz on a blued gun but I have had good success using 0000 steel wool and and lot's of Ballistol (just about any oil should do). I know it sounds counter intuitive to use steel wool on a blued gun but it works. Try it on an inconspicuous area until you are sure it will work for you. Post some before and after pics if you can.

[Garv]

+1
Please post results

[shafferds]

Use walnut Blasting media to remove rust as well without harming the blueing.

[Joshua Tree]

0000 steel wool + lighter fluid or light oils like ATF (automatic transmission fluid) is the standard, and there is also soft bronze wool available from retailers and e-tailers:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Homax-Fine-Bronze-Wool-Pads-3-Pack-123100/100185012

I would not use Flitz in ANY case, as the abrasives are tiny and "loose" particles, and able to grind into the surface, rather than a fine wool + light oil that rides across the surface.

[Condorguns]

+1 again for steel wool and the oil of your choice.

[Bushwack44]

Using 0000 steel wool and Ballistol (or the like), how would I know I'm getting any rust off? Or should I say would I see evidence on the wool of rust?

When I tried Flitz liquid on a blued pistol using a cleaning pad, I was able to see rust coming off on an area that otherwise didn't look rusty (yes, the cleaning pad was brown). An initial application or two worked fine but thereafter, both rust and the blue finish (signs of fading) appeared; no matter how light I applied pressure.

[jpscoot_21]

Yes, you would see the difference. The fine steel wool would turn brown. I use CLP or Rem oil. If it is light surface rust, the bluing will be unaffected.

[ColdDeadHands1]

Try soaking in Kroil and buffing lightly with bronze wool. Works perfectly for me to remove rust.

Steel wool? You must be crazy!

[blackrat]

is it ok after cleaning off the surface rust to dab a bit of blue touch up on there? I had a small amount on a ruger mark that I removed with clp, then hoppes on a rag. After I stopped getting residue i dabbed a bit on there to hopefully stop it from appearing again, wasn't sure if it would work.

[jyo]

Easy remove surface rust on blued guns: flood blued surface with lots of Breakfree CLP and rub-in carefully---add more if you want---let sit for a few hours or even days---use the edge of a pre-1980 COPPER penny and rub the rust right off! Least harmful method I know...

[dyson]

Brass brush and lots of clp seemed to work well

[smle-man]

Rub the rust spots with the edge of an older .05 cent coin. The rust comes off and the finish stays intact.

[duckman1]

Use the bronze wool it much softer than steel wool lots of oil and rub gently. The copper penny also works well and is pretty easy to hold and apply even pressure, once again the penny is softer than the steel you will be working on.

[Vin63]

In the past, I've just used either Kroil or Gibbs Brand penetrating oil and soaked the area. After a couple of days and a couple of additional applications in between, I wipe the area down with a terry cloth rag, and then with a lint-free rag soaked in penetrating oil to leave a film. If the area is corroded beyond that, it probably needs to be refinished.