Surface rust on finished stainless steel

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Surface rust on finished stainless steel

Posted: 3/10/2006 4:34:17 AM EDT

I've got a pistol that is a combination of polished and matte stainless steel.

There are a couple of small spots of rust on it.

Is there a standard method for removing the rust without harming the finish?
(I don't want to rub it with steel wool, or corrosive solutions that will scratch/etch the surface)

Posted: 3/10/2006 4:36:09 AM EDT

[#1]

Try a pencil eraser

Posted: 3/10/2006 4:41:27 AM EDT

[#2]

Grab some lube and a rag, she'll clean right up. My SA chamber on my 1911 does that every now and then.

Posted: 3/10/2006 4:42:55 AM EDT

[#3]

A product like this will work wonders on Stainless Steel (Though this website seems a little high) miraclecloth.com/MiracleClothGunCleaning.htm.

Posted: 3/10/2006 5:32:28 AM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:
Try a pencil eraser

A pencil eraser will dull the finish of polished stainless steel.

Posted: 3/10/2006 5:40:12 AM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Try a pencil eraser

A pencil eraser will dull the finish of polished stainless steel.

Exactly. I would try a little Break Free, if you have any.

Posted: 3/10/2006 5:42:12 AM EDT

[#6]

There's a product I used several years ago (name?), but was a silicone and wax impregnated cloth that did a good job.

Posted: 3/10/2006 5:54:32 AM EDT

[#7]

I have the 100% perfect product.

It is called Flitz metal polish. Get a tube of paste.

I have been using the stuff for 15 years and it works fantastic.

It specifically says it is made for firearms and will not harm blueing. I have used it on dozens of guns.

You can usually find it in most hardware stores.

Posted: 3/10/2006 5:54:37 AM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Try a pencil eraser

A pencil eraser will dull the finish of polished stainless steel.

Exactly. I would try a little Break Free, if you have any.

What red-blooded woman-loving gun-owning american doesn't have CLP Break Free?

(I just didn't know it would help remove rust)

I just remembered I've got some metallurgical diamond paste that would work great for the polished parts.

But the satin parts might be more difficult. I'll try the Break Free and see how it work.

Posted: 3/10/2006 5:55:54 AM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
I have the 100% perfect product.

It is called Flitz metal polish. Get a tube of paste.

I have been using the stuff for 15 years and it works fantastic.

It specifically says it is made for firearms and will not harm blueing. I have used it on dozens of guns.

images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000AXMBN.01-A2B3WACBWPDWRJ._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

You can usually find it in most hardware stores.

I always thought Flitz was a mild abrasive.
Must be mistaken, if it won't harm bluing.
I'll look into it.

Posted: 3/10/2006 6:03:56 AM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:
Quoted:
I have the 100% perfect product.

It is called Flitz metal polish. Get a tube of paste.

I have been using the stuff for 15 years and it works fantastic.

It specifically says it is made for firearms and will not harm blueing. I have used it on dozens of guns.

images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000AXMBN.01-A2B3WACBWPDWRJ._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

You can usually find it in most hardware stores.

I always thought Flitz was a mild abrasive.
Must be mistaken, if it won't harm bluing.
I'll look into it.

Not abrasive at all.

Posted: 3/10/2006 6:05:20 AM EDT

[#11]

tag

Posted: 3/10/2006 6:23:57 AM EDT

[#12]

I would use a beadblaster and a buffer (NOT A DREMEL TOOL) with 500 grit compound.. But thats just me..

Posted: 3/10/2006 6:25:51 AM EDT

[#13]

super fine 000 steel wool and some CLP and your good to go. Wont harm the finish at all.

Posted: 3/10/2006 6:36:31 AM EDT

[#14]

I would try Flitz first before trying other remedies. Flitz has some anti-corrosion chemicals that is supposed to protect the finish also.

Posted: 3/10/2006 6:39:33 AM EDT

[#15]

Nevr-Dull has always worked for me.

Posted: 3/10/2006 6:44:04 AM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:
super fine 000 steel wool and some CLP and your good to go. Wont harm the finish at all.

Brass wool... it is softer than steel, will do the job with less danger of damage.

Posted: 3/10/2006 6:46:45 AM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:
super fine 000 steel wool and some CLP and your good to go. Wont harm the finish at all.

+1 and a gentle touch. Used this technique on a Smith 686 without an issue.

Posted: 3/10/2006 6:50:01 AM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:
I have the 100% perfect product.

It is called Flitz metal polish. Get a tube of paste.

I have been using the stuff for 15 years and it works fantastic.

It specifically says it is made for firearms and will not harm blueing. I have used it on dozens of guns.

images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000AXMBN.01-A2B3WACBWPDWRJ._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

You can usually find it in most hardware stores.

Excellent product. I use it on all my stainless guns.

HH

Posted: 3/10/2006 7:03:53 AM EDT

[#19]

Keep the steel wool away from stainless or the problem is likely to come back with a vengeance.
The carbon steel in the wool will smear on the surface and cause even more rust.
If the rust is discrete small spots on a new gun it is likely from the steel tooling used during manufacture.
Passivation treatments can help, but sometimes spots still get through.
Scotch-brite is better f you need to use an abrasive. You can restore brushed stainless by using Scotch-brite and restoring the scratch pattern.
For bead blasted try CLP or even liquid wrench. They can remove rust without doing much harm to good metal. The only real way to touch up bead blasting is with more blasting. If you have blasting touched up be sure the media is new or has not been used on carbon steel. Like steel wool, blasting media contaminated with carbon steel can leave enough metal behind to cause further surface rust to appear

Posted: 3/10/2006 7:04:39 AM EDT

[#20]

Kroil

Posted: 3/10/2006 7:05:58 AM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:
I've got a pistol that is a combination of polished and matte stainless steel.

There are a couple of small spots of rust on it.

Is there a standard method for removing the rust without harming the finish?
(I don't want to rub it with steel wool, or corrosive solutions that will scratch/etch the surface)

XD?

Posted: 3/10/2006 10:06:50 AM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:
Quoted:
I've got a pistol that is a combination of polished and matte stainless steel.

There are a couple of small spots of rust on it.

Is there a standard method for removing the rust without harming the finish?
(I don't want to rub it with steel wool, or corrosive solutions that will scratch/etch the surface)

XD?

The polished stainless Colt is jealous of the corrosion resistance of my Glocks,
but the Glocks "ain't got a thing since they ain't got the bling" of bright shiny polished stainless.

Posted: 3/10/2006 10:07:52 AM EDT

[#23]

Quoted:
Keep the steel wool away from stainless or the problem is likely to come back with a vengeance.
The carbon steel in the wool will smear on the surface and cause even more rust.
If the rust is discrete small spots on a new gun it is likely from the steel tooling used during manufacture.
Passivation treatments can help, but sometimes spots still get through.
Scotch-brite is better f you need to use an abrasive. You can restore brushed stainless by using Scotch-brite and restoring the scratch pattern.
For bead blasted try CLP or even liquid wrench. They can remove rust without doing much harm to good metal. The only real way to touch up bead blasting is with more blasting. If you have blasting touched up be sure the media is new or has not been used on carbon steel. Like steel wool, blasting media contaminated with carbon steel can leave enough metal behind to cause further surface rust to appear

EXTREMELY good advice here. (regarding NOT using steel wool on stainless steel)

Sounds like you have worked with stainless before.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Surface rust on finished stainless steel

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