[fla shooter]

Just acquired a SxS shotgun. I have cleaned the bores and they are very bright and clean. The exterior of the barrell has a couple spots that have some surface rust that I wanted to clean off. Can anyone explain the procedure for doing this. Thanks in advance for any input

 

[Gil Martin]

It depends

I have used very fine steel wool and a few drops of gun oil to lightly go over surface rust areas. Be gentle or the bluing may come off as well. If so, then I would touch up the finish with cold blue. All the best...
Gil

 

[Marshal Kane]

Has anyone tried a chemical rust remover for cases like this? Would Liquid Wrench remove the rust without attacking the bluing? A call to Brownell's might come up with a suitable product.

 

[jaguarxk120]

I think I would try Kroil oil, PB Blaster, or Eds Red all are designed to get under rust/corrosion/fouling.

 

[BackWoods Billy]

0000 steel wool and oil work just fine. I like to use the steel wool dry,then put the gun oil on. Like Gil said.Be gentle. If the rust is real deep you can use Navel Gel,but it likes to take the bluing with it.It's better to get all the rust out and re blue. If it is pitted you can use sandpaper.Start with 320grit then 600,then 1200,then steel wool it. Just make sure you oil it after your done.

 

[REDTAIL]

OOOOO Steel wool & some EEZOX will get the job done & take off the Rust etc.

 

[chevwilliam]

Bluing finish is controlled rusting so Be Very Careful of what you use and how you do it.

 

[scmopar]

Oil and wornout toothbrush

 

[pisgah]

If the rust is a bit more than just a light surface dusting, put some oil on it and scrape it with the edge of a copper penny. It will remove the rust with no damage to the blue. Also leaves a coppery smear, but it will wipe right off.

A mild warning -- even very fine steel wool can start to remove bluing if you get too enthusiastic, so go easy and take it a bit at a time.

 

[plinking mad]

I would use very fine steel wool as it cannot remove bluing then oil the area always when not in use
if you are getting rust issues a rebluing may be in order as it does fade with wear. Tim

 

[pogson]

Turn Rust To Blue

If your bluing is actually black, you could try polishing the rust until it is very smooth and treating the rusty spot with lime-sulphur solution. The sulphides react with the rust to form black iron sulphide. This is an old bluing method, but it still works. This way, you don't have to remove all the rust and leave a pit.

Lime-sulphur spray is used to control pests on dormant fruit trees and the like. If you can't find any in garden-supply places, make your own: dissolve a pinch of powdered sulphur and CaO, lime, in a cup of boiling water. It takes some time as both items are nearly insoluble in water. They have to react chemically with water to dissolve. The solution is clear red colour.

This bluing method is also useful for bluing small items made of iron/steel. You could try it out before doing the barrel. Shine the small items up and expose them to salt water and air for a bit until they are rusty, polish the rust and dip them in the solution. You can also get iron/steel to rust quickly by making the item the positive terminal in an electrolytic cell. Oxygen is released all over the surface and rust happens. Of course, all oil or other impurities should be removed to get a uniform coating. The process should not damage existing bluing if it was done by a similar process, but test an inconspicuous spot first to be sure.

Lime-sulphur solution has a short shelf-life. It decomposes back into sulphur and lime-water after a while, so it is best made fresh for each job.

 

[Mtns2Hunt]

Rust

I have used Flitz cleaner in the past to remove small amounts of rust - it is very gentle on blueing.

Some really interesting solutions presented in this forum. I have used steel wool and oil but never heard of Lime-sulphur spray. May have to try it.

 

[REDTAIL]

0000 Steel Wool & some EEZOX & You will not get any more rust with the treated EEZOX Stuff.

 

[John Wallace]

Bronze wool, which is probably still available from World's Largest Supplier of Gun Parts, Gunsmith Tools & Shooting Accessories - Brownells , is about as good as steel wool, and won't harm the bluing. Some types of blue, and some types of steel, will resist steel wool less than others. I wouldn't, for example, trust bluing on stainless steel, which can still rust if abused.

If you feel you need a chemical rust remover, I would use naval jelly after painting around the rust marks. Then you would have to reblue the cleaned area with something. It will certainly remove bluing down to the bare metal.

 

[rojkoh]

Just acquired a SxS shotgun. I have cleaned the bores and they are very bright and clean. The exterior of the barrell has a couple spots that have some surface rust that I wanted to clean off. Can anyone explain the procedure for doing this. Thanks in advance for any input

Get some Kroil Oil, take a Popsicle stick or a Starbuck's stir stick. Put some Kroil Oil on the rust... allow to sit for a couple of hours to penetrate and then gently but firmly rub with the stick. Be sure it's NOT hard wood.

I just cleaned up a rusty Model 54 that way and it works wonders and does NOT cause any damage to the finish (that still exists).

You can get Kroil Oil either at a hardware store or Brownells.

Do NOT use Steel wool or any abrasive material to it, it takes the finish off.