Surface Rust

SPEMack618 · March 18, 2011, 06:00 PM

Okay, bit of backstory. Pops went down to Bike Week the same week I floated down the river for spring break with some of the guys. We traded our daily CCW due to holster compatibility for the trip. And I promptly flipped my canoe and soaked all my gear, including my Dad's pistol. Well, after getting off the river several hours later, surface rust had already begun to show on the gun. I scrubbed it down and oiled it as soon as I got home, but the rust is still there. Anything I can do?

It's a blued Springfield Night Compact.

Eagle0711 · March 18, 2011, 06:27 PM

Iv'e had good results with light oil and extra fine steel wool.

5whiskey · March 18, 2011, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Iv'e had good results with light oil and extra fine steel wool.

What he said. BTW, ATF works really well at taking rust off.

WESHOOT2 · March 19, 2011, 05:19 AM

stainless steel wool.......

brickeyee · March 19, 2011, 11:17 AM

Just use a lot of oil and replace the steel wool often.

Jeweler's Rouge is iron oxide, rust, and cleaning it off can result in polishing away any finish that ir present (like blue) or creating a shinny spot in a brushed finish (stainless steel).

bigautomatic · March 19, 2011, 08:31 PM

What they said. AND, I've got a drybag I'll let go of real cheap

. Kidding, couldn't help myself.

SPEMack618 · March 19, 2011, 10:24 PM

Oh believe me, after this excursion, next time on the river, more than just my phone and wallet will be encased in something waterproof.

Sleeping bag, camera, pistol, fishing gear, dry sweater, the list is long and important....

James K · March 19, 2011, 11:55 PM

I vote for brass or copper wool (sold in the stores as a pot scrubber); even fine steel wool can leave tiny scratches and remove bluing.

Jim

handgunfan101 · March 20, 2011, 12:54 AM

I have an older S&W 9mm and it had a bit of surface rust on it. i used break free CLP on it with 000 steel wool as directed by a smith at my local gun store. and 99% came off the first application. Then i wiped it all down and drenched a dish rag in the CLP and wrapped the gun up in it (minus the grip) for about 4-5 hrs and then did another thorough job on it with a cleaning (gun) rag and oiled the entire gun and it looks 10x's better. I did notice a tiny pitted spot (not very deep or big) near the front site. I took it in and having it done (fine bead blasted) and re blued for 70.00. I will pick it up on wednesday. He said it would have a satin finish on it and look like new.

Geezerbiker · March 20, 2011, 06:20 AM

I would be concerned that steel wool will damage the bluing. I've used copper pot scrubbers with ATF for this and there was no damage to the finish.

Then again, if it's bad enough, you may just have to polish it up and have it reblued. If he's an understanding dad, he'll live with it after your best efforts to fix it...

Tony

nogo · March 20, 2011, 06:48 PM

0000 steel wool and oil have worked for me. Is there a chance that the rust you now see was there before the canoe trip? It seems really stubborn for recent rust, especially since you promply cleaned the pistol.

SPEMack618 · March 22, 2011, 10:52 PM

Nogo-

Nah, Pop's keeps that thing inspection ready at all times. I was re-reading and I may have misspoke(mis-typed?).

After flipping my canoe and dunking my gear, said pistol definantly set in a ziploc bag in a wet backpack, in a wet nylon holster for a solid six hours, only for said bag to get rained on all night and the next day. It was exposed to a fair amount of moisture before I could really oil it down.

Geezerbiker · March 23, 2011, 05:06 AM

If it were me, I'd send it out for a reblue or buy him a new one and keep that one for yourself. Actually, I'd really go for option 2 if it were my problem.

Tony

March 18, 2011, 06:00 PM	#1
SPEMack618 Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2010 Location: Central Georgia Posts: 1,863	Surface Rust Okay, bit of backstory. Pops went down to Bike Week the same week I floated down the river for spring break with some of the guys. We traded our daily CCW due to holster compatibility for the trip. And I promptly flipped my canoe and soaked all my gear, including my Dad's pistol. Well, after getting off the river several hours later, surface rust had already begun to show on the gun. I scrubbed it down and oiled it as soon as I got home, but the rust is still there. Anything I can do? It's a blued Springfield Night Compact. __________________ NRA Life Member Read my blog! "The answer to any caliber debate is going to be .38 Super, 10mm, .357 Sig or .41 Magnum!"

March 19, 2011, 05:19 AM	#4
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	stainless steel wool....... __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

March 19, 2011, 08:31 PM	#6
bigautomatic Senior Member Join Date: December 18, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 610	What they said. AND, I've got a drybag I'll let go of real cheap. Kidding, couldn't help myself.

March 19, 2011, 10:24 PM	#7
SPEMack618 Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2010 Location: Central Georgia Posts: 1,863	Oh believe me, after this excursion, next time on the river, more than just my phone and wallet will be encased in something waterproof. Sleeping bag, camera, pistol, fishing gear, dry sweater, the list is long and important.... __________________ NRA Life Member Read my blog! "The answer to any caliber debate is going to be .38 Super, 10mm, .357 Sig or .41 Magnum!"

March 22, 2011, 10:52 PM	#12
SPEMack618 Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2010 Location: Central Georgia Posts: 1,863	Nogo- Nah, Pop's keeps that thing inspection ready at all times. I was re-reading and I may have misspoke(mis-typed?). After flipping my canoe and dunking my gear, said pistol definantly set in a ziploc bag in a wet backpack, in a wet nylon holster for a solid six hours, only for said bag to get rained on all night and the next day. It was exposed to a fair amount of moisture before I could really oil it down. __________________ NRA Life Member Read my blog! "The answer to any caliber debate is going to be .38 Super, 10mm, .357 Sig or .41 Magnum!"

March 18, 2011, 06:27 PM	#2
Eagle0711 Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2010 Posts: 782	Iv'e had good results with light oil and extra fine steel wool.

March 19, 2011, 11:17 AM	#5
brickeyee Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2004 Posts: 3,351	Just use a lot of oil and replace the steel wool often. Jeweler's Rouge is iron oxide, rust, and cleaning it off can result in polishing away any finish that ir present (like blue) or creating a shinny spot in a brushed finish (stainless steel).

March 19, 2011, 11:55 PM	#8
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	I vote for brass or copper wool (sold in the stores as a pot scrubber); even fine steel wool can leave tiny scratches and remove bluing. Jim

March 20, 2011, 12:54 AM	#9
handgunfan101 Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2011 Location: Glasgow Kentucky Posts: 275	I have an older S&W 9mm and it had a bit of surface rust on it. i used break free CLP on it with 000 steel wool as directed by a smith at my local gun store. and 99% came off the first application. Then i wiped it all down and drenched a dish rag in the CLP and wrapped the gun up in it (minus the grip) for about 4-5 hrs and then did another thorough job on it with a cleaning (gun) rag and oiled the entire gun and it looks 10x's better. I did notice a tiny pitted spot (not very deep or big) near the front site. I took it in and having it done (fine bead blasted) and re blued for 70.00. I will pick it up on wednesday. He said it would have a satin finish on it and look like new.

March 20, 2011, 06:20 AM	#10
Geezerbiker Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Location: Willamina, OR Posts: 1,908	I would be concerned that steel wool will damage the bluing. I've used copper pot scrubbers with ATF for this and there was no damage to the finish. Then again, if it's bad enough, you may just have to polish it up and have it reblued. If he's an understanding dad, he'll live with it after your best efforts to fix it... Tony

March 20, 2011, 06:48 PM	#11
nogo Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2009 Location: central texas Posts: 215	0000 steel wool and oil have worked for me. Is there a chance that the rust you now see was there before the canoe trip? It seems really stubborn for recent rust, especially since you promply cleaned the pistol.

March 23, 2011, 05:06 AM	#13
Geezerbiker Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Location: Willamina, OR Posts: 1,908	If it were me, I'd send it out for a reblue or buy him a new one and keep that one for yourself. Actually, I'd really go for option 2 if it were my problem. Tony