doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Cleaning finely rusted metal surfaces?

I have a beautiful cape gun. I'm cleaning the wood know with a delicate solution. It is keeping the much of the patina but getting rid of the grim. What should I use on the metal surfaces to accomplish the same goal- clean away the dirt and grim but leave the patina? Thanks

Alex

Depending on how dirty this gun is I might start with some Break Free and a soft cloth and see what is left after that. You can always get more aggressive with fine steel wool if there is some rusting and the like.

Bill G.

WD-40 and OOOO steel wool will not remove rust blue but will remove cold blue.

How about those little gray freckles all over the actions on many old shotguns?

Thanks Bill G.

Where can I get Break Free?

Alex

Break Free can be purchased at most hardware, automotive and places like Cabelas,Bass Pro.

Jim

Alex,

it is available at most gunshops and tool supplies.

http://www.break-free.com/

Bill G.

I have been very successful soaking for a couple of days in a solution composed of 2/3 rds turpintine and 1/3 30 weight nondetergent motor oil. It will remove a lot of rust without removing case color, blueing or patina. For barrels, I use a long plastic trey normally used for wetting wall paper to hold the solution and barrels.

If I do any rubbing, it is never with steel wool. I use copper wool extremely lightly.

Riprap

For a gun that has virtually no case color left, but has some very light discoloration from 'freckling', you might try some Simichrome, Blue Magic, or Flitz polish. I'd use it in the larger areas that see wear from handling and leave the patina in the areas that seem to retain colors.

WD-40 and OOOO steel wool will not remove rust blue but will remove cold blue.

Edited by revdocdrew (Today at 11:38 AM)

Ditto. JL