Removing rust from stainless finish?

[Marswolf]

Check here for a quick and simple overview of stainless steels. Or Google "stainless steel characteristics" (without the " marks). Google is our friend.

Stainless Steels - Introduction To The Grades And Families

Topics Covered

Background

The Families Of Stainless Steels

Austenitic Stainless Steels

Ferritic Stainless Steels

Martensitic Stainless Steels

Duplex Stainless Steels

Precipitation Hardening Stainless Steels

Characteristics Of Stainless Steels

Standard Classifications

I think I have told this story more than once but I think it bears repeating. Not too long before we were were married, my wife had to have some surgery. She repeatedly told the medical people that she was very allergic to Nickle. She knew to tell them repeatedly. He mother is a retired RN.

Anyway, she had the surgery and they used surgical staples. So we went in to have the staples removed and I thought the medical staff was going to pass out. The site was pretty gross. The guy actually removing the staples had a hard time removing them and said he had never seen such swelling.

I asked him what kind of SS they used. He looked puzzled. I asked if it was 304L or 316 or what. He looked at me like I was from Mars. I explained that she had told them that she was allergic to Nickle and told him that most SS contains significant amounts of Nickle.

Medical folks don't have a clue about alloys. And so too most gun folks don't have a clue.

SS is great for corrosion resistance, if you use the right alloy. But generally, they don't have the strength of other steels. Think gun discussions of steels are interesting? Bring up SS characteristics in a knife forum.

Basically, SS is used in a less stressful area on handguns - the slide. Corrosion resistance seems to vary a lot depending on body chemistry. Personally, I prefer a "better" grade of steel for the slide that might rust, but has more strength.

The perfect SS slide? A non SS slide with Duracoat.