This old girl needs some help!

[SDSmlf]

Oh, no worries it's in the white.

If that’s the case, I would just finish like normal.

 

[jefair1]

I got a barrel at an estate sale that was covered in rust. I got a PVC pipe capped one end and filled it with WD-40 and soaked it for a week. Rubbed with steel wool.

 

[Feltwad]

Well I have had many guns in that condition come to me for restoration but 99% are guns that have been forgotten about and have been in attics etc for over 100years but the gun in question has been left for the excess of 20years to reach that condition is only pure neglect and should never have happened, I am not trying too offend the person but only pointing out how wrong he or she was when a oily rag would have kept the rust at bay .
Feltwad

Before

After

 

[Kansas Kid]

It doesn’t look too bad. Evapo Rust isn’t snake oil and actually works very well. Hit with some sand paper after soaking in Evapo Rust. You don’t have to sand all the pits out but I bet it’s not as bad as it looks.

 

[skwerleater]

I haven’t tried it yet, but I have some tools that were left outside and got rusty, my machinist friend told me to put them in plain white vinegar and that would dislove the rust. I am not sure how long to soak though. Might be worth a try before you start sanding it off or cut the barrel back

 

[TFoley]

50/50 acetone and atf shaken in a bottle. Then poured in a open container that the barrel muzzle can be placed in so the mixture will cover all the rust. Let sit over night then use a triple aut steel wool orgrey or green scrub pad.

It came as a great surprise to me to find out, when visiting a friend's home a few years back for the first time, that his wife was using a green scrub pad IN THE KITCHEN SINK!!! Never thought of using it for cleaning up cooking pans...guess that's another use for them, eh?

 

[Capnball]

Evapo-Rust, no elbow grease, soak it and you are done. Get the rust off and shoot it, may turn out OK. If it doesn't shoot Bobby Hoyt can reline it or you can cut it back to a 2 band version.

Evaporust works amazing!
Neil

 

[duca]

I’ve used a 50/50 water and Vinegar bath to refurbish old cast iron pans. Takes the rust right off. Only thing is you can’t leave it in the bath for more then a Couple of hours. Pull out a steel wool

 

[Pork Chop]

I was very skeptical of Evaporust. It sounds like snake oil. I bought a jug and poured some into a plastic tub. I have a break top cartridge pistol that was given to me as a mass of rust. The cylinder would turn reluctantly, the action was stuck. The barrel pivot was stuck at a 45 degree angle, the lock on the top that secures the barrel to the frame was stuck. It was a paperweight that looked like it came off the deck of the Titanic. I put it in there and when it came out, I was as not expecting much. I washed it off with water and hosed it down with WD-40. I was ASTONISHED!! The rust was gone, and everything works! It pivots, locks securely, the trigger and action work fine, other than being hideous, it looks serviceable!!

 

[smo]

I vote for Naval Jelly.... it leaves a nice patina..

 

[skwerleater]

I tried the vinegar yesterday, straight vinegar on some rusted parts and in short order, maybe 25 minutes took the rust off.

 

[Peter Stines]

Evapo Rust WORKS!!!!

 

[Idaho Ron]

I vote for Naval Jelly.... it leaves a nice patina..

I have used it a time or two on barrels that were pretty rusty. It works very well.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Loctite-Naval-Jelly-16-fl-oz-Rust-Dissolver-553472/203009241

 

[smo]

I like the nice gray finish it leaves on new metal as well...

 

[user 34300]

Naval Jelly will etch the steel and in this cause further damage the bore. There is never a good situation to use Naval Jelly on a gun. The best three way to remove heavy rust on a gun are Evaporust, Evaporust, and Evaporust. This is not speculation that is 50 years of experience, I have tried them all.

For light rust on bluing steel wool and oil will do. Just be sure to turn and change the pad often. Rust on steel wool scratches bluing.

 

[TFoley]

I vote for Naval Jelly.... it leaves a nice patina..

Just ONE proviso - do NOT spread it on a sammidge.

 

[Col. Batguano]

If the rust created pitting (on the outside) you may want to get the files out first to get down through them before you start in with the sand paper. You can get it all (solely) with 600 grit of course, but it might take you 10 years.

 

[TFoley]

Bronze wool is always better to use than steel, in my experience, that is. YMMV.

 

[Sam squanch]

“ this old girl needs some help!” If I had a nickel for every time I heard THAT at the bar........

 

[Col. Batguano]

“ this old girl needs some help!” If I had a nickel for every time I heard THAT at the bar........

I don't know about you, but me; I still wouldn't have a nickel!