How do I clean rust from the outside of a gun?

[dgray64]

I just traded for a Stevens 5100 made in 1953. The barrels are clean inside and bright, but the outside has light rust and some pitting. Whats the best way to clean this up. I bought some cold bluing tonight at Wally World to put on after I get the thing cleaned enough, but that's the rub! I don't want to wear a hole in the barrels trying to clean out little pits. It there some substance I can rub on it that will remove the rust so that I can seal it? Thanks.

Dave

 

[denster]

Use some 0000 steel wool and light oil. That will take off any surface rust and clean out the pits as well as burnishing the area. It will not take off any of the remaining bluing as the steel wool is softer than the gun metal. I would not use the BC Perma Blue you got at Wally World it will not blend in with the nitrate blueing on your gun. If you want to get rid of the pits you will need to draw file them away then polish the area and use Van's instant bluing which will blend in and is as durable as the original blue.

 

[dgray64]

Thanks, Denster. Merry Christmas.

Dave

 

[John4me05]

A pencil eraser will also remove light rust

 

[eden892]

I have used Flitz with lots of rubbing works well but a lot of work.

 

[Riss]

Steel wool can and will remove blueing. Get some bronze wool from Brownells. Is softer than the blueing on of the gun and only if you are very aggressive with it will it remove blueing. And I have scrubbed and scrubbed with it I have never cut through any blueing. Soak it with light gun oil and go to town. The rust and bronze wool will make a brown muddy slurry that you might need to clean out of the pad every now and then but just clean it out and load back up with oil and keep scrubbing.

 

[W.E.G.]

Steel wool will leave scratches.

Use BRONZE wool instead.

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/productdetail.aspx?p=7391&st=bronze wool&s=

 

[Firehand]

One thing that I've found works well is Blue Wonder bore cleaner. A little of it on some #0000 steel wool, light rubbing, will take off rust without damaging the remaining bluing.

 

[denster]

Bronze wool is good if you don't mind paying $5+$6shipping for a little bag. However 0000 steel wool is not going to leave scratches and will not remove blueing with the rubbing required to remove light rust and clean out light pits. And a years supply is $1.68 at the local hardware.

 

[rcmodel]

Obviously everyone saying 0000 steel wool will ruin or scratch bluing has never tried it, or done any hot-bluing or rust-bluing.

That is what is used to card off the red salts residue you get fresh out of the hot bluing tank.

That is also what is used to clean off the red rust between dilute acid applications when doing fine rust-bluing.

0000 steel wool & oil will not harm the finest bluing if used with even a lick of common sense.

I have been using it for over 40 years in cleaning light rust of old Winchester & Colt collectibles, as well as anything else needing it when they come into the shop.


rcmodel

 

[CU74]

Bronze wool is good if you don't mind paying $5+$6shipping for a little bag. However 0000 steel wool is not going to leave scratches and will not remove blueing with the rubbing required to remove light rust and clean out light pits. And a years supply is $1.68 at the local hardware.

My local, small town ACE Hardware carries bronze wool. If you don't see it on the shelf, ask for it - you might get lucky...............