Minor Rust on Nickel

yourkyle21 · June 10, 2009, 03:43 PM

i have a nickel plated S&W .357 that has minor rust spots does anyone have any tips on how to get it off with out doing any further damage

follow link for picture(i now its not the best pic but you can see some at the front site and on top is where the majority is only a tiny bit actually on the nickel its self

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...8&d=1244567334

your help is appreciated

thanks alot

kyle

Dfariswheel · June 10, 2009, 06:26 PM

Unfortunately, there's not much you can do except keep a coat of wax or a good rust preventing lube on the surface.

The rust is THROUGH the finish and into the steel underneath.
There's simply no possible way to "remove" it or even make it look much better.
Since rust gets under the plating, it can continue to rust the underlying steel so keep it coated with something.
Also, keep bore solvent off the spots. It can infiltrate through the breaks in the plating and cause the remainder to start lifting off.

If you want to make it look better, or "fix it", your only real option is to have it refinished before the rust spreads too far or too deep.
This is one of the down sides of plated finishes. Once the surface is compromised, there's no repairing or polishing that can help. Any attempts will only further damage the finish.
Its either live with it or have it refinished.

June 10, 2009, 03:43 PM	#1
yourkyle21 Junior Member Join Date: June 8, 2009 Location: Northwest Florida Posts: 8	Minor Rust on Nickel i have a nickel plated S&W .357 that has minor rust spots does anyone have any tips on how to get it off with out doing any further damage follow link for picture(i now its not the best pic but you can see some at the front site and on top is where the majority is only a tiny bit actually on the nickel its self http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...8&d=1244567334 your help is appreciated thanks alot kyle

June 10, 2009, 06:26 PM	#2
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	Unfortunately, there's not much you can do except keep a coat of wax or a good rust preventing lube on the surface. The rust is THROUGH the finish and into the steel underneath. There's simply no possible way to "remove" it or even make it look much better. Since rust gets under the plating, it can continue to rust the underlying steel so keep it coated with something. Also, keep bore solvent off the spots. It can infiltrate through the breaks in the plating and cause the remainder to start lifting off. If you want to make it look better, or "fix it", your only real option is to have it refinished before the rust spreads too far or too deep. This is one of the down sides of plated finishes. Once the surface is compromised, there's no repairing or polishing that can help. Any attempts will only further damage the finish. Its either live with it or have it refinished.