Rust Removal

[Ebow1]

My father has given me his handgun to hold onto while he's in a motel between residences. He doesn't feel comfortable keeping it in his motel room. It's a little Charter Arms .38 special snub nose revolver. It's got a decent amount of rust on the exterior and I just wanted to know what I should and shouldn't do before I take any steps to fixing it up.

[Ebow1]

Also, I do have pics I can email if anybody wants to see.

[twstdstng]

rub a little tabasco sause on it,helps get the rust off.

[Rightwinger]

Pizza sauce will work too. The acid from the maters....know anywhere you could get a good quantity of pizza sauce Ebow?

Seriously, start with gun oil and a cloth and elbow grease it some ebow. If that doesn't get most of it, come see me, we can put my wheel to it.

Grobet 6" Diameter 4 Row Brushing Wheel .003 Stainless Steel - MidwayUSA

[mikegideon]

The pizza sauce works better if you throw it at the gun.

I have some little wire wheels for my dremel that I've used with oil to dig rust out of pits. I like Rightwinger's solution better. I assume it takes the finish with it.

[Ebow1]

I took some Hoppe's to it. Took care of it just fine.

[Rightwinger]

The pizza sauce works better if you throw it at the gun.

I have some little wire wheels for my dremel that I've used with oil to dig rust out of pits. I like Rightwinger's solution better. I assume it takes the finish with it.

Nope, leaves the finish. This is a case where things get backwards. The soft stainless wires of this brush will clean and remove rust or discoloration. I've used it on lots of barrels. If you want to remove finish and blueing, you use cloth wheels. I couldn't believe it the first time either but they were taking barrels down to the steel removing old blue at the gun shop in Gallatin with one of those.

Formax 6" Diameter 1/2" Thick Spiral Sewn Cotton Buffing and Polishing Wheel for 5/8" or 1/2" Arbor Hole - MidwayUSA

[Punisher84]

...know anywhere you could get a good quantity of pizza sauce Ebow?

Thank you. Just thanks a freaking lot man.

[mikegideon]

I took some Hoppe's to it. Took care of it just fine.

Good deal. Sounds like it didn't get a chance to do any pitting.

[Ebow1]

Doesn't seem to have. I still need to take it apart for complete inspection and cleaning.

[roverboy]

Glad you got it.

[Ebow1]

Well technically, it still belongs to my dad. I'm just holding it for him while he's in between places. I'm hoping I can convince him to just let me keep it since he didn't take care of it or even have ammo for it.

[Guest guardlobo]

A little steel wool is sometimes helpful. Get the extra fine stuff used for wood refinishing and use it lightly.

[Sidewinder]

I've had good luck with Hoppe's No. 9 and four ought ( 0000) steel wool. Put a drop of Hoppe's and move the steel wool in a straight line. Do not use circular motions, as this can put swirls on the gun. After a couple of "light" passes, wipe it off with a clean soft cloth and see where you are. Repeat as necessary. Then, naturally apply some good grade gun oil. Take it easy... don't rub too hard! Only do this until you get the rust, and hopefully the shallow pit. Good luck. Hope you get to keep the gun... or your dad buys some ammo, so he can protect himself!