I agree with Mike about not using any penetrating oil that may remove or loosen rust. Our new browning or bluing is a form of rust after all, and it seems to be less securely bonded to the steel when fresh. I tried using the best known water displacing oil, WD-40 once, and noticed that a little of the blacking I worked so hard to achieve came off when I rubbed the oil off. Since then, I've used ATF, mostly because I was given several gallons of old Dexron II and Mercon that is no longer used in newer vehicles.

I also find that WD-40 with 0000 steel wool works very well to remove loose rust or to clean Damascus that has such deep patina that the pattern is obscured.


A true sign of mental illness is any gun owner who would vote for an Anti-Gunner like Joe Biden.