Safe way to remove rust

[savasyn]

I pulled a shotgun out of deep storage yesterday and discovered that it had some rust(not too bad, but spots) on the trigger, in the barrel and a few other places. What is a safe way to remove the rust without damaging the surrounding bluing?
I know what to do once it is off, just not sure how I should approach removing it.
Thanks!

[AJAX22]

spray some Wd40 on it and let it sit an hour, then take an all copper (not a coper plated zinc ) penny and use it to gently scrape the rust off. then touch up the area, copper is soft enough that it can remove the rust witout disturbing the base metal

[Can'thavenuthingood]

Molasses.

I get the molasses from a feed store.

Mix 1 part molasses with 4 parts water.

Insert rusty parts, cover and let sit for a few days. A bit of heat helps the process, like sitting in the sunlight.

Rusty truck parts come out looking brand new with no scraping or sanding effects to the base metal. Exhaust manifolds, engine blocks etc.

It works by a process called chelating. Eats only rust.
Solution works for quite a few batches. I have a bucket of real rusty headbolts in work right now.

When it gets weak just dilute it further and spread it in your garden or lawn.

Vick

[Pulsar]

A little oil and a aluminum foil works quite well I've been told, though I haven't used it my self yet.

Personally at work I used a stainless pan scrubber (like under your sink) picked up from ace hardware. I'm not sure exactly what the real name for it is, but it's basically a knot of stainless steel woll with very thick stands, it's soft with no sharp edges and it removes rust without hurting the finish like a champ. I wish I knew what it was called, but I'm not actually the person who bought it.


EDIT: I should have used my google fu, I found this.

http://www.bettymills.com/shop/product/view/Continental/COND204-12.html

[rg_1111@yahoo.com]

Don't use WD40 on your firearms. WD40 has fish oil it will cause the firearm to rust more. If you do use WD40 Use other oil after your done.

[Pulsar]

Don't use WD40 on your firearms. WD40 has fish oil it will cause the firearm to rust more. If you do use WD40 Use other oil after your done.

+1. Good catch, I always forget to tell people that.

I prefer Breakfree CLP my self for all my firearms.

[Stormfeather]

+1. I prefer Breakfree CLP my self for all my firearms.

Ditto, old USMC habits are hard to break!

[XCRmonger]

So far we've only had one rust complaint... And it was from a customer in the humid south. I guess his barrel started rusting mid-July (July in South Carolina?? Hot??), and so he sent it in. We re-parkerized it for him and shipped it back.

[wildcard]

Evapo Rust. Pick up a bottle from your local Auto Zone.

Wait.. nevermind.. you want to preserve the blue

[savasyn]

Thanks guys! I'll see if I can find one of those kitchen scrubbers on my way home tonight.

So, what is WD-40 actually good for? It's not a lubricant, it doesn't prevent rust and apparently actually promotes it. I know it's suppose to "displace water", but what are the practical applications of that?
The stuff has been selling for years but everybody seems to be using it wrong.

[XCRmonger]

WD-40 makes rust worse? The guy at Auto Zone said to use it on a rust spot on my truck

[VeryCoolCat]

I've only heard bad stuff about using WD40 on guns Just stick with standard gun cleaner and remember to oil up your firearms. If you use WD40 make sure you really clean that stuff off.... and use lots of lube. Not that kind of lube, get yer mind out of the gutter

[rg_1111@yahoo.com]

WD40 is good for fishing, spray sardine hides human sent. Use CLP Breakfree or use Ezzox gun oil for your firearm.

[Dr. Peter Venkman]

Breakfree CLP will remove the rust.

it r teh best.

[savasyn]

I soaked the parts in CLP then scrubbed them with a plastic brush and 99% of it came off. There is one spot that I can't really get to, but it's on the heat shield so it's not too critical.


Out of curiosity, what's the difference between the spray CLP and the squeeze bottle version? I've had a spray version for years but don't use it because of the smell. I just got the squeeze version and it doesn't smell. It isn't "foamy" like the spray either. Is there a functional difference?