[five0]

I am currently trying to clean up a SS Colt MKIV Government Model 380 and am running into difficulties.

This is what it looks like right now:

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/6458/dsc01342fo7.jpg

I have tried Hoppes and a lead remover cloth, with no luck. Any more ideas?

[kimbernut]

0000 steel wool saturated (not dripping wet)with a good gun oil/CLP(I prefer Break-Free) is a good starting place. This step will normally take care of the problem for me.

[brickeyee]

Use some stainless steel wool (even chore boy copper 'wool') or a brass brush, and some oil.

I have seen stainless guns with a nice film of rust on them after being rubbed with steel wool and not protected (it is stainless, right?).

I even had a friend complain that his stainless steel sink 'rusted'.
They used SOS pads on a daily basis to clean the sink.

The carbon steel used in steel wool can leave smears of metal in the typical brushed stainless finish.
The steel can then rust if the surface is not adequately protected with oil.

And as you have found out, stainless is less prone to rusting ... NOT rust free.

[FullEffect1911]

I agree, don't use carbon steel wool. I would just use scotch bright to polish that right out. It isn't metal at all and comes in varying "grits".

[Macmac]

I have a Kimber that began to rust on the slide which is ss. I gave up working at it and with break free wetted it, just to prevent more stains.

A few days later I was surpised to find breakfree had floated all the stains off the metal. maybe that will work out for you if you just keep it wetted??

[mrmeval]

This says not to use steel wool. It says naval jelly will remove it.
They also say once it's removed to get it passivated.
http://www.finishing.com/107/57.shtml

The sounds better passivating and rust removal. Citric acid is around $15 for 10lb but pickling gel is pricey.
http://www.finishing.com/92/20.shtml

[chris allen]

it can be bead blasted or sand blasted .Bead blasting will be close to the factory look.Use clean beads as to keep from driving contaminates into the stainless steel.
chris

[Master Blaster]

Flitz metal polish will remove the rust with a bit of rubbing,

[five0]

Nothing has worked so far. I am trying Fruit Fresh, which has citric acid in it right now, but I don't have high hopes.

[steelyblue]

How does SS get like that anyway? Isn't it supposed to be stainless? Could you have gotten bore cleaner on it?

[asknight]

Stain"less" not stain-free. :p

To make stainless tough enough to use in that role, it has to have a considerable amount of carbon molecules (the part that rusts) in it.

I +1 the flitz, scotch brite, and bead blasting recommendations. In that order, depending on how bad it is under any scaling. Soak it (liberally) for at least one day in Break-Free before the scotch brite treatment, it'll help a lot.

[chris allen]

Stainless steel--- The grade of stainless use in the gun industry WILL RUST.

I serviced stainless steel pistols for a national police force and due to areas of high moisture ,neglect ,sweaty hands etc .I had to remove rust ,especially under the grips just as shown in the picture.

Light rust -- 3m pads
heavier rust --bead blast

chris

[five0]

Oh well i am letting navel jelly sit on it.

I am giving the gun back to the owner tomorrow. With a fancy new set of grips that cover most of the rust stains.

He repairs older cars, so I'll tell him about the bead blasting option. But that is out of my realm.

Thanks for all of the info.