Rust Removal from Cap & Ball

arcaveman · April 12, 2014, 01:48 PM

Hey guys, I recently had a friend give me an old replica black powder revolver that was his dad's. The problem is it's rusted all to heck! Any ideas about how to easily remove rust? Thanks for any help!

gunslinger2000 · April 12, 2014, 01:53 PM

Personally I wouldn't remove the exterior rust. I would just periodically polish with oil. I use rust brown finish on several of my percussion guns. Gunslinger

arcaveman · April 12, 2014, 01:59 PM

Yeah the rust on the outside isn't really the issue, the main thing is rust in the bore and cylinder. Mostly just want to get the gun to where it will function properly again.

Kadmos · April 12, 2014, 02:35 PM

I tend to do this more with old hand tools or pocket knives...haven't had a need to do it with a gun.

But just some extra fine steel wool, WD40, and elbow grease.

Although for the bore and cylinder some wd40 and a brass bristle bore brush will probably work best

Kappe · April 12, 2014, 03:03 PM

Hoppe's #9 and #0000 steel wool has worked very well for me in the past. Use a bore brush for the barrel and chambers.

BirchOrr · April 12, 2014, 09:12 PM

...depends on how bad the rust inside the barrel. I have plugged and soaked them for weeks in the past with either Kano Kroil or (home-brew) 50/50 mixture of ATF and acetone. If there's not major pitting, They will come out sweet!

On the other hand, if it's really bad after doing the above, go after the inside of the barrel with some JB non-imbedding bore cleaning compound on a patch over a wire brush in a cordless drill.

All the best,

Birch

arcaveman · April 13, 2014, 07:27 PM

Thanks everybody. So far i soaked it over night in hoppe's #9 and used some extra fine steel wool and it's gotten a heck of a lot of it off. So far very pleased with it

gyvel · April 13, 2014, 07:43 PM

You might find that 0000 steel wool works better with turpentine. Turpentine seems to dissolve rust.

olyinaz · April 13, 2014, 10:42 PM

There is a product called EvapoRust that will dissolve rust while leaving steel and iron unharmed. It's not an acid and wont harm other metal either. Frankly, it's amazing stuff. What it will do however is remove blue or any other oxide on the steel, so do consider that.

You can plug the bore and use it in there and soak the internal parts in it. Or just soak the whole thing - you can't overdo it, it'll stop when it's done. It leaves the good steel a dull gray that buffs very nicely with steel wool. Works great, lasts a long time.

http://www.evaporust.com/evaporust.html

Oly

Kadmos · April 14, 2014, 03:41 AM

Quote:

There is a product called EvapoRust that will dissolve rust while leaving steel and iron unharmed. It's not an acid and wont harm other metal either. Frankly, it's amazing stuff. What it will do however is remove blue or any other oxide on the steel, so do consider that.

I've used it before and will attest it does work rather well.

However, I don't like the finish it leaves at all. Just seems unnatural to me. Never tried to buff it afterwords, may have to try that.

The reason I use WD40 is because it lubricates the steel wool so if not overdone you can take off rust but leave patina intact.

I save the Evaporust for stuff like car parts, I don't care if some engine part is a weird gray.

It's just a matter of personal taste...but that stuff really does work!

mehavey · April 14, 2014, 07:01 AM

EvapoRust (remover) doesn't leave a "finish" per se.
Just wipe the black rust residue off with a paper
towel/turpentine(whatever) .

Bright metal underneath (See here):
http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...73&postcount=2

April 12, 2014, 01:48 PM	#1
arcaveman Junior Member Join Date: February 23, 2014 Location: Cave City, AR Posts: 14	Rust Removal from Cap & Ball Hey guys, I recently had a friend give me an old replica black powder revolver that was his dad's. The problem is it's rusted all to heck! Any ideas about how to easily remove rust? Thanks for any help!

April 12, 2014, 09:12 PM	#6
BirchOrr Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2012 Location: Eaton Rapids, MI Posts: 445	It really... ...depends on how bad the rust inside the barrel. I have plugged and soaked them for weeks in the past with either Kano Kroil or (home-brew) 50/50 mixture of ATF and acetone. If there's not major pitting, They will come out sweet! On the other hand, if it's really bad after doing the above, go after the inside of the barrel with some JB non-imbedding bore cleaning compound on a patch over a wire brush in a cordless drill. All the best, Birch __________________ Black Powder: Not because it is easy, but because it is hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win...

April 12, 2014, 01:53 PM	#2
gunslinger2000 Member Join Date: March 5, 2014 Location: Waterloo, Iowa Posts: 66	Personally I wouldn't remove the exterior rust. I would just periodically polish with oil. I use rust brown finish on several of my percussion guns. Gunslinger

April 12, 2014, 01:59 PM	#3
arcaveman Junior Member Join Date: February 23, 2014 Location: Cave City, AR Posts: 14	Yeah the rust on the outside isn't really the issue, the main thing is rust in the bore and cylinder. Mostly just want to get the gun to where it will function properly again.

April 12, 2014, 02:35 PM	#4
Kadmos Member Join Date: April 27, 2010 Posts: 93	I tend to do this more with old hand tools or pocket knives...haven't had a need to do it with a gun. But just some extra fine steel wool, WD40, and elbow grease. Although for the bore and cylinder some wd40 and a brass bristle bore brush will probably work best

April 12, 2014, 03:03 PM	#5
Kappe Senior Member Join Date: May 28, 2013 Location: New Jersey Posts: 149	Hoppe's #9 and #0000 steel wool has worked very well for me in the past. Use a bore brush for the barrel and chambers.

April 13, 2014, 07:27 PM	#7
arcaveman Junior Member Join Date: February 23, 2014 Location: Cave City, AR Posts: 14	Thanks everybody. So far i soaked it over night in hoppe's #9 and used some extra fine steel wool and it's gotten a heck of a lot of it off. So far very pleased with it

April 13, 2014, 07:43 PM	#8
gyvel Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2009 Location: Northern AZ Posts: 7,172	You might find that 0000 steel wool works better with turpentine. Turpentine seems to dissolve rust.

April 13, 2014, 10:42 PM	#9
olyinaz Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 877	There is a product called EvapoRust that will dissolve rust while leaving steel and iron unharmed. It's not an acid and wont harm other metal either. Frankly, it's amazing stuff. What it will do however is remove blue or any other oxide on the steel, so do consider that. You can plug the bore and use it in there and soak the internal parts in it. Or just soak the whole thing - you can't overdo it, it'll stop when it's done. It leaves the good steel a dull gray that buffs very nicely with steel wool. Works great, lasts a long time. http://www.evaporust.com/evaporust.html Oly

April 14, 2014, 07:01 AM	#11
mehavey Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 6,896	EvapoRust (remover) doesn't leave a "finish" per se. Just wipe the black rust residue off with a paper towel/turpentine(whatever) . Bright metal underneath (See here): http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...73&postcount=2