Removing a spot of rust

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jharpphoto Member Joined Dec 2005 Posts 2663 EE 100% (17) GA, USA	Posted: 10/28/2022 11:37:42 AM EDT I’ve got a small spot on the very end of the slide of an HK US P 45. What’s the recommended way to remove and prevent this rust from spreading and becoming a bigger problem?

AeroE I Was Free Born Joined Nov 2000 Posts 91848 EE 100% (2) USA	Posted: 10/28/2022 11:56:46 AM EDT [Last Edit: AeroE] [#1] Apply light oil. Gently polish with 0000 or finer steel wool. Don't store the gun in a holster and keep the outside oiled.
	*Keep your powder dry, and watch your back trail.*

FrankSymptoms Veteran of the Third Battle of Tannhauser Gate. Joined Dec 2005 Posts 76306 EE 100% (6) ID, USA	Posted: 10/28/2022 2:31:48 PM EDT [#2] My dad said he had luck removing light rust from blued steel using a pink pearl eraser. It's the same eraser as is found on a pencil.
	"The Creator may be seen in all the works of his hands, but none so clearly in the wise economy of the honey bee." "Obviously natural selection is bunk. Why are there so many stupid people left?"

jharpphoto Member Joined Dec 2005 Posts 2664 EE 100% (17) GA, USA	Posted: 10/28/2022 2:33:12 PM EDT [#3] Quote History Originally Posted By AeroE: Apply light oil. Gently polish with 0000 or finer steel wool. Don't store the gun in a holster and keep the outside oiled. View Quote great suggestion. Thanks!

dfariswheel

Joined Feb 2005
Posts 10098
EE 0% (0)

USA

Posted: 10/28/2022 8:14:35 PM EDT

[#4]

Apply a heavy coat of CLP Breakfree or better, Kroil and let soak a day or two.
This will soften and loosen the rust.

Then apply more and use a brass toothbrush to "scrub" the area.
A "Big 45" pad is said to work great. People swear by the Big 45 for removing rust but not bluing.

https://www.big45metalcleaner.com/

DO NOT use a "copper" coin. These are no longer copper and will scratch.
Use 0000 steel wool at your own risk, but I've see a lot of guns with damage caused by using it dry or too hard.

fxntime

Member

Joined Jan 2003
Posts 102296
EE 100% (9)

MI, USA

Posted: 10/28/2022 8:26:19 PM EDT

[#5]

Quote History

Originally Posted By dfariswheel:
Apply a heavy coat of CLP Breakfree or better, Kroil and let soak a day or two.
This will soften and loosen the rust.

Then apply more and use a brass toothbrush to "scrub" the area.
A "Big 45" pad is said to work great. People swear by the Big 45 for removing rust but not bluing.

https://www.big45metalcleaner.com/

DO NOT use a "copper" coin. These are no longer copper and will scratch.
Use 0000 steel wool at your own risk, but I've see a lot of guns with damage caused by using it dry or too hard.

View Quote

Pre 82 pennies.

Liberals are a curious mix of communism and fascism, they want to destroy you but want to use your own money to do it.

I'd rather be CALLED a fascist then BE a liberal.

M1A4ME

Member

Joined Apr 2008
Posts 17978
EE 0% (0)

VA, USA

Posted: 10/28/2022 8:53:16 PM EDT

[#6]

Quote History

Originally Posted By AeroE:
Apply light oil. Gently polish with 0000 or finer steel wool.

Don't store the gun in a holster and keep the outside oiled.

View Quote

Worked every time I've used it.

Once you wipe it off with the oily cloth after touching/cleaning - do not touch it with your bare skin again while putting it away till the next time.

How you live your life is important. Just be sure the memory of how you died doesn't overshadow the tales of how you lived your life.

Lazyshooter Member Joined Aug 2001 Posts 7788 EE 100% (33) IL, USA	Posted: 10/28/2022 9:28:22 PM EDT [#7] If he has to touch this spot up, what product best matches the HK finish?

medicdubs Member Joined Jan 2009 Posts 3315 EE 100% (5) CA, USA	Posted: 10/28/2022 9:33:37 PM EDT [#8] A copper penny or Copper wool. The copper wool is not cheep but they have it on Amazon.

jharpphoto Member Joined Dec 2005 Posts 2665 EE 100% (17) GA, USA	Posted: 10/28/2022 9:49:25 PM EDT [#9] thanks guys I’ll try this

pepe-lepew Joined Feb 2009 Posts 3740 EE 100% (2) OR, USA	Posted: 12/15/2022 1:45:53 PM EDT [#10] Boil it in water. Check out Mark Novak’s videos on YouTube.

kwb377 Member Joined Nov 2001 Posts 1853 EE 100% (201) AL, USA	Posted: 12/22/2022 5:14:03 PM EDT [#11] Bronze wool and Kroil work great to remove rust without damaging the finish.

badkarmaiii Joined Feb 2009 Posts 4263 EE 0% (0) NM, USA	Posted: 5/23/2023 7:47:13 PM EDT [#12] Pencil "lead" is something like clay and graphite. Works well without damage. Oil for prevention.

darg508

Joined Feb 2022
Posts 384
EE 0% (0)

AZ, USA

Posted: 7/11/2023 12:11:26 AM EDT

[#13]

Quote History

Originally Posted By pepe-lepew:
Boil it in water. Check out Mark Novak’s videos on YouTube.

View Quote

That! If you just put oil on it you preserve the brown rust and it will spread as soon as it sees humidity.
If you use steel or copper wool it will leave tiny seeds of brown rust back that will do the same.
Boiling with prior degreasing (oil removal) will turn the brown rust into black rust which is defective blueing.
Removing brown rust also will leave pits where it was sitting since it drills down into and along the grain boundaries. Converting it into black rust shrinks the volume and it settles.
Use a water displacement (WD40 or better kerosine) and then dry it. Apply oil and it will be fine.

Ivan1 Member Joined May 2011 Posts 6889 EE 100% (128) USA	Posted: 7/20/2023 2:42:07 PM EDT [#14] If it bothers him that much. Get it refinished. I have a beretta 71 that I got a few years ago. Its has very light rust pitted on the barrel. I keep it oiled and it hasn’t gotten worse.

Jeeps-And-Guns Member Joined Jan 2017 Posts 1688 EE 100% (52) AL, USA	Posted: 7/23/2023 9:00:38 AM EDT [#15] Another recommendation for the frontier big 45 pad. I have one and love it! Every time I buy a used gun with spots of rust, the big 45 takes care of it with no issues. I have yet to cause any damage to any bluing.

brownbomber Joined Mar 2015 Posts 4099 EE 0% (0) AZ, USA	Posted: 8/12/2023 9:21:21 PM EDT [#16] Immerse in boiling water for a couple minutes to change rust to magnetite, which is what bluing is.

ArmoryMarine

Joined Jan 2023
Posts 2
EE 0% (0)

MA, USA

Posted: 11/6/2023 12:12:53 AM EDT

[Last Edit: ArmoryMarine] [#17]

Wet/ soak it with Kroil then hit the rust with a soft bristled tooth or AP brush.
If the toothbrush doesn't rid the rust to your likings do the 0000 steel wool keeping it wet with Kroil.
Boiling works too but remember if any water is left in the nooks and crannies rust can form.
Dissasembly before a boil helps to get every area of the slide dried. The bigger deal is soaking (best) or saturating the slide
With oil immediately after drying is key to preventing any more rust. Then give it rub wipe with a silicone impregnated cloth
after you handle it and before you put it away.

DogtownTom Team Member Joined Mar 2007 Posts 15427 EE 100% (21) TX, USA	Posted: 11/9/2023 10:06:17 PM EDT [#18] Fifteen years ago a customer told me about Miracle Cloth. I've never used bronze wool since.
	Plano, Texas...........the Gun Nut Capitol of Gun Culture, USA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pELwCqz2JfE

1MRBEAN

Joined Apr 2003
Posts 2165
EE 100% (4)

MI, USA

Posted: 4/9/2024 10:12:19 AM EDT

[#19]

The best cheap tool i found for removing minor rust and hard to reach grime and corrosion are Bamboo BBQ skewers. You can use the pointed end to clean out hard to reach areas and if you break it in half the bristles on the end can be used to scrub out rust pits . I use kroil oil for the rust. I have used this technique several times on older blued pistols and the Bamboo does not scratch the finish. Steel wool is too harsh and cannot pin point the rust like the fine tip of the Bamboo.

TGWLDR GUN WHORE Joined Dec 2014 Posts 49664 EE 100% (446) USA	Posted: 4/19/2024 9:32:29 PM EDT [#20] https://www.evapo-rust.com/ I've had good luck with 0000 steel wool and CLP also as stated above.
	Can't never could 'til try came along. "All welchers should be removed from the EE".-Aimless R.I.P. to the EE

Removing a spot of rust

Handguns » Gunsmithing & Troubleshooting

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