restoring a rusted 1848 uberti

bfs24 · July 30, 2015, 01:27 PM

new to site and would like some advice on restoring a rusted and banged up dragoon black powder pistol. should i sand it all down and reblue the entire gun or just do some light sanding with buffing... thanks for your time

Jim Watson · July 30, 2015, 01:34 PM

If you do any sanding and/or buffing, it will take off what finish remains.

Are you set up to blue it back?

It does not look too bad on the kitchen floor; I would go over it with fine steel wool and oil and call it "antiqued."

Bill DeShivs · July 30, 2015, 02:01 PM

0000 steel wool will remove 80% of the rust. A little oil after that and the gun will look fine.
Unless you actually own a gunsmithing shop, you aren't set up to "restore" or reblue, so anything you do along those lines would do more damage than good.

hartcreek · July 30, 2015, 02:04 PM

If it was mine I would juts use 0000 steel wool and my favorite oil and get the rust off. Then it will have some character......

bfs24 · July 30, 2015, 08:05 PM

Thanks guys... what should i do about all the pitting. i know most of the blueing is gone and only about 10% remains. it was built in 1991 so its going to be a shooter that i don't see myself selling soon. i know i am not set up to reblue it but i wanted to add a little to make it look ok, not perfect. thanks for the comments...

Bill DeShivs · July 30, 2015, 08:43 PM

It looks like there is plenty of bluing left. The frame was not blued-it's color case-hardened, and it's supposed to look like that.
Try the 0000 steel wool. Then squirt it down with WD 40 and scrub it with a rag. I think you'll be surprised.

g.willikers · July 31, 2015, 08:44 AM

Another vote for just doing the minimum and leaving it looking experienced.

Clark · July 31, 2015, 03:34 PM

I have rubbed motor oil on a rusty gun with a nylon dishwashing scrub pad every night for a month.

By the end of the month you will not remember how rusty it was.
You should take a better picture first.

bfs24 · July 31, 2015, 11:40 PM

thanks for your reply's guys here are some more shots of the rust and pitting.

Clark · August 1, 2015, 10:53 AM

I spend a lot of time getting rust off.
I have lots of wire wheel and mandrels that I put in a lathe chuck and spin.
You want the finest wire wheel that will get the job done.

I have a couple jugs of evapo rust. That works.

Sometimes i put things in a salt -vinegar brine in the microwave and boil, and then rinse. That makes rusty files sharp.

I have set up the soda and electrolysis, but I don't like it.

For flat surfaces, I like to put fine wet and dry paper on a cast iron ground surface, like a table saw and rub them together. That is how I get the back of woodworking chisels flat. Did that with an old rusty one from ebay this morning.

g.willikers · August 1, 2015, 01:10 PM

Metal objects in microwave ovens??
Didn't know that was acceptable.

Bill DeShivs · August 1, 2015, 03:43 PM

While the gun is a little beat up, there is little you can do (other than what I already suggested) to make it look better-only worse. The finish doesn't hurt the gun at all. It can be used as if it were in new condition.
You could have it professionally refinished, but it would cost more than the gun is worth.

Clark · August 2, 2015, 01:04 AM

Quote:

g.willikers
Metal objects in microwave ovens??
Didn't know that was acceptable.

The walls of the microwave are made of metal.
There are lots of interesting things to do with a microwave when the wife is not home.
I have come up with a few, but the good stuff is on youtube.
I would caution that plates with very thin Gold foil decoration will cause sparks and damage to the plate.

**4V50 Gary** · August 2, 2015, 07:44 AM

I'd take a NRA Summer School bluing course.

bfs24 · August 2, 2015, 12:24 PM

thanks for all the great advise guys, i am going to lightly sand it down ,clean it up and see how it turns out...

**4V50 Gary** · August 2, 2015, 01:36 PM

Back the sandpaper with a block of wood. Woodcraft has sanding blocks that are curved shaped. You can buy a set and one will match the barrel.

Bill DeShivs · August 2, 2015, 02:45 PM

Be sure to show us pictures, to prove me wrong.

James K · August 2, 2015, 07:12 PM

Let it rust some more, then stick on a tag saying "dug up at San Jacinto" and sell it for ten grand at a gun show.

Jim

Clark · August 4, 2015, 01:33 AM

I got some rusty chisels off ebay today.
I put them in the evapo rust for 1/2 hour.
They came out gray.
I rubbed on them with mineral oil and 600 grit wet and dry sheet.
I made a handle for one of them.

links below same as pics above

bfs24 · August 4, 2015, 02:07 AM

Clark, were would i buy the evapo rust at? that looks like what i would like to try.

Clark · August 4, 2015, 02:49 AM

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&key...ag=googhydr-20

Doc Hoy · August 4, 2015, 04:02 AM

Hows the bore?

Hows the action?

bfs24 · August 5, 2015, 09:17 AM

Doc Hoy, the bore's dirty but not pitted and the action is smooth and strong. thanks Clark...

Doc Hoy · August 5, 2015, 02:08 PM

These pistols are a lot of fun to work on. You learn a lot by fooling with them.

Love to see the progress (photos) as you move forward.

Tnx,

bfs24 · August 6, 2015, 12:13 PM

i have not worked on it in a few days, but will keep posting pics as i go. thanks for all the advise...

July 30, 2015, 01:27 PM	#1
bfs24 Member Join Date: July 29, 2015 Posts: 16	restoring a rusted 1848 uberti new to site and would like some advice on restoring a rusted and banged up dragoon black powder pistol. should i sand it all down and reblue the entire gun or just do some light sanding with buffing... thanks for your time

July 30, 2015, 02:01 PM	#3
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,988	0000 steel wool will remove 80% of the rust. A little oil after that and the gun will look fine. Unless you actually own a gunsmithing shop, you aren't set up to "restore" or reblue, so anything you do along those lines would do more damage than good. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

July 30, 2015, 08:43 PM	#6
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,988	It looks like there is plenty of bluing left. The frame was not blued-it's color case-hardened, and it's supposed to look like that. Try the 0000 steel wool. Then squirt it down with WD 40 and scrub it with a rag. I think you'll be surprised. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

July 31, 2015, 08:44 AM	#7
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Another vote for just doing the minimum and leaving it looking experienced. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

July 31, 2015, 03:34 PM	#8
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	I have rubbed motor oil on a rusty gun with a nylon dishwashing scrub pad every night for a month. By the end of the month you will not remember how rusty it was. You should take a better picture first. __________________ The word 'forum" does not mean "not criticizing books." "Ad hominem fallacy" is not the same as point by point criticism of books. If you bought the book, and believe it all, it may FEEL like an ad hominem attack, but you might strive to accept other points of view may exist. Are we a nation of competing ideas, or a nation of forced conformity of thought?

July 30, 2015, 01:34 PM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,546	If you do any sanding and/or buffing, it will take off what finish remains. Are you set up to blue it back? It does not look too bad on the kitchen floor; I would go over it with fine steel wool and oil and call it "antiqued."

July 30, 2015, 02:04 PM	#4
hartcreek Junior member Join Date: April 22, 2014 Location: Washington Posts: 1,549	If it was mine I would juts use 0000 steel wool and my favorite oil and get the rust off. Then it will have some character......

July 30, 2015, 08:05 PM	#5
bfs24 Member Join Date: July 29, 2015 Posts: 16	Thanks guys... what should i do about all the pitting. i know most of the blueing is gone and only about 10% remains. it was built in 1991 so its going to be a shooter that i don't see myself selling soon. i know i am not set up to reblue it but i wanted to add a little to make it look ok, not perfect. thanks for the comments...

July 31, 2015, 11:40 PM	#9
bfs24 Member Join Date: July 29, 2015 Posts: 16	thanks for your reply's guys here are some more shots of the rust and pitting.

August 1, 2015, 10:53 AM	#10
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	I spend a lot of time getting rust off. I have lots of wire wheel and mandrels that I put in a lathe chuck and spin. You want the finest wire wheel that will get the job done. I have a couple jugs of evapo rust. That works. Sometimes i put things in a salt -vinegar brine in the microwave and boil, and then rinse. That makes rusty files sharp. I have set up the soda and electrolysis, but I don't like it. For flat surfaces, I like to put fine wet and dry paper on a cast iron ground surface, like a table saw and rub them together. That is how I get the back of woodworking chisels flat. Did that with an old rusty one from ebay this morning. __________________ The word 'forum" does not mean "not criticizing books." "Ad hominem fallacy" is not the same as point by point criticism of books. If you bought the book, and believe it all, it may FEEL like an ad hominem attack, but you might strive to accept other points of view may exist. Are we a nation of competing ideas, or a nation of forced conformity of thought?

August 1, 2015, 01:10 PM	#11
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Metal objects in microwave ovens?? Didn't know that was acceptable. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

August 1, 2015, 03:43 PM	#12
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,988	While the gun is a little beat up, there is little you can do (other than what I already suggested) to make it look better-only worse. The finish doesn't hurt the gun at all. It can be used as if it were in new condition. You could have it professionally refinished, but it would cost more than the gun is worth. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

August 2, 2015, 07:44 AM	#14
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,848	I'd take a NRA Summer School bluing course. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

August 2, 2015, 12:24 PM	#15
bfs24 Member Join Date: July 29, 2015 Posts: 16	thanks for all the great advise guys, i am going to lightly sand it down ,clean it up and see how it turns out...

August 2, 2015, 01:36 PM	#16
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,848	Back the sandpaper with a block of wood. Woodcraft has sanding blocks that are curved shaped. You can buy a set and one will match the barrel. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

August 2, 2015, 02:45 PM	#17
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,988	Be sure to show us pictures, to prove me wrong. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

August 2, 2015, 07:12 PM	#18
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Let it rust some more, then stick on a tag saying "dug up at San Jacinto" and sell it for ten grand at a gun show. Jim

August 4, 2015, 02:07 AM	#20
bfs24 Member Join Date: July 29, 2015 Posts: 16	Clark, were would i buy the evapo rust at? that looks like what i would like to try.

August 4, 2015, 02:49 AM	#21
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&key...ag=googhydr-20 __________________ The word 'forum" does not mean "not criticizing books." "Ad hominem fallacy" is not the same as point by point criticism of books. If you bought the book, and believe it all, it may FEEL like an ad hominem attack, but you might strive to accept other points of view may exist. Are we a nation of competing ideas, or a nation of forced conformity of thought?

August 4, 2015, 04:02 AM	#22
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	Two questions.... Hows the bore? Hows the action? __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

August 5, 2015, 09:17 AM	#23
bfs24 Member Join Date: July 29, 2015 Posts: 16	Doc Hoy, the bore's dirty but not pitted and the action is smooth and strong. thanks Clark...

August 5, 2015, 02:08 PM	#24
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	Definitiely worth the effort. These pistols are a lot of fun to work on. You learn a lot by fooling with them. Love to see the progress (photos) as you move forward. Tnx, __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

August 6, 2015, 12:13 PM	#25
bfs24 Member Join Date: July 29, 2015 Posts: 16	i have not worked on it in a few days, but will keep posting pics as i go. thanks for all the advise...