Forget Salt Water Emersion, Let See If Guns Can Survive the Peach Juice Emersion Test

[kbellis3]

While vacationing/working in West By God Virginia, my father borrowed my Smith Model 19 Combat Magnum, 4inch blue steel, a fair good looking and the Second Gun that I bought used for $300.00.

Today I recieved a panicked phone call while working in the family Qwikeee Mart from my dad, he wanted to know what he could do for rust on a gun, as a headache began developing behind my left eye I had to ask the question, "why would my gun be rusting rusting?" Since I asked a stupid question I got a stupid answer, aparently he put the gun in the back seat in a backpack that held snacks for my niece, and it now seems that the peaches were mushy and leaking juice all over the contents of the backpacking. Content that included my Second Gun, aparently the acid content in peaches is high enough to begin causing rust and blue damage in about 14 hours.

Now I have a question, does anyone know who can treat the problem and do a good job either reblueing the gun or is some other exotic coating better for durability (ie NP3 etc.)?

Kyle

I of sticky gun do ask for advice.

 

[clubsoda22]

that really sucks. Anyway, i've never seen a tefloned revolver.

 

[Al Thompson]

S&W may still have a good deal on reblueing. If not, for a few bucks more you can get the M19 hard chromed.

 

[Wanderer]

Send it to robar when it's all said and done and get it NP3'ed. Why did he have your gun, might I ask?

 

[cslinger]

My advice is to send it to one of the professionals and have it re-finished. Robar, Tripps whatever.

On the bright side I'm sure your gun smells really nice.

Chris

 

[Old Fuff]

Sorry about your hard luck …

Give your guns a couple of coats of good quality automobile wax (not polish) that do not contain any abrasives or rubbing compound. That simple step could have prevented much of the damage.

As for damage to the original finish. If the metal is not seriously pitted the old blue can be chemically stripped and not damage stamped numbers, model & caliber markings, etc. Then after a light buffing it can be reblued or an optional finish of your choice applied. Right now it’s important that the gun be kept oiled or greased so that the rusting doesn’t continue.

 

[mtnbkr]

If the rust isn't bad (metal is not pitted), 0000 steel wool and some light gun oil will do wonders. Couldn't hurt to try it since the alternative is to have it refinished anyway.

Chris

 

[MacPelto]

My advice is to send it to one of the professionals and have it re-finished. Robar, Tripps whatever.

I would have said 'Send it to Tripp's' too, but they quit the hard-chroming business a week ago, today. Oh, well. As long as ther's not pitting, you can have it reblued, and it should look the same as it ever did.

 

[cslinger]

Not to topic hijack, but why did Tripps quit hard chroming. They did such wonderful work.

 

[C.R.Sam]

First aid.
If it were mine, would totally strip the gun and use boiling water to get the juice off of and out of the parts. Changing the water a couple times.

Then dry quickly and immediatly coat everything with a corrosion inhibitor.

Then, at leisure, figure out what to do about the cosmetics and re-assembly.

Sam

 

[MacPelto]

I always thought so too, but...

from the Tripp website

July 03, 2003 Announcement and Thanks

In order to give my full attention to our new high performance 1911CobraMag line of products, our hard chrome and coating service facility will close August 15, 2003. Refinishing jobs taken in on or before this date will be completed in approximately 14 shop days. As always, any warranty issues for our refinishing work will continue to be handled to your satisfaction. We appreciate the opportunity to have performed your refinishing work for the last five years and are especially proud of our quality and turnaround record. Thanks again for your business and I look forward to continuing our business relationships with our new product line.

Sincerely,

Virgil Tripp
Tripp Research, Inc.
Alpine, Texas USA

http://www.trippresearch.com/announcement/announcement.htm

 

[Al Thompson]

http://www.apwcogan.com

 

[Standing Wolf]

I can't tell you what to do about your poor revolver, but can tell you where not to send it: Checkmate Custom in Florida.

 

[DBR]

I would try: http://www.m1911.org/metalife.htm. Best chrome process I have found and Ron is a gunsmith.

 

[blfuller]

Try some FLITZ metal polish. It's pretty good at rust on blueing removal.