Stainless steel gun rust

[spinhat]

I purposely bought the stainless steel versions of two Springfield 1911's so i wouldn't have to worry about rusting. I left the two guns in an air tight personnel safe for about 8 months before checking them and they both rusted up. I think the moisture in the wood grips caused this. I thought SS was not supposed to rust, maybe its cheap SS. anyway i can get surface rust off with a 3m pad but i have some pitting too and i am not really sure how to get it out without bead blasting it. Any suggestions would be great.

adding pics

Attachment 91548Attachment 91549

[robert slabaugh]

I purposely bought the stainless steel versions of two Springfield 1911's so i wouldn't have to worry about rusting. I left the two guns in an air tight personnel safe for about 8 months before checking them and they both rusted up. I think the moisture in the wood grips caused this. I thought SS was not supposed to rust, maybe its cheap SS. anyway i can get surface rust off with a 3m pad but i have some pitting too and i am not really sure how to get it out without bead blasting it. Any suggestions would be great.

3 series stainless does not rust, 4 series does. It is dependent on the amount or chrome and nickel in the alloy. Pitting requires removing metal.

[Gunsnwater]

If it has any iron in it then it can rust. Some stainless steel has no iron, but then it's not really steel. Every grade of stainless used in guns have iron and will rust. They passivate the steel to help protect it. A light acid wash desolves the surface iron leaving chrome that then oxidizes in a very thin but hard layer. The chrome is self limiting as to how far it will oxidize. If you scratch that layer, it will rust if it can. The way the grain structure works in stainless the iron travels deep but not wide. So when stainless goes you had better be quick as it will pit faster than regular steel in a gun. Use either oil, rust inhibiting grease or wepon shield or museum wax to prevent rust on all your guns. Control humidity to less than 50% and know if your body chemistry is bad for rusting guns. If your one of those "lucky" people use cotton gloves at home before storage. Never wrap a gun in cotton cloth for storage as if the humidity get high enough the cotton will pull the water out of he air and rust a fabric weave pattern on your gun. Never use steel wool on stainless, the iron rubbs off onto the gun and can cause rusting. 3m is ok. A polish after with flitz will help close the pores or a bead blast or a passivation bath.

[firebird.77]

To add-

4xx series stainless is magnetic. It is the "cheap" grade of stainless steel

3xx series is only slightly magnetic when heat treated or welded. Cold worked 304 (the most common grade) or 316 (food grade/used in highly corrosive environments) is not magnetic



Every "Stainless Steel" gun I have encountered is 400 series and takes to a magnet like regular steel

[Gunsnwater]

Thought I had an old link to simmilar conversation. Oops.

[gghbi]

Thought I had an old link to simmilar conversation. Oops.

You did.

[Rosco the Iroc]

Using a silicon cloth would help prevent it. W/O pics I'd say light oil and 0000 steel wool with a light touch.

[Gunsnwater]

Using a silicon cloth would help prevent it. W/O pics I'd say light oil and 0000 steel wool with a light touch.

Wool=bad 3M scotch brite=good horse beat=dead

[Rosco the Iroc]

Wool=bad 3M scotch brite=good horse beat=dead

The greenie weenie? eh maybe. Again depends on how bad it is.
I do like the Dremal bits of them.

[Gunsnwater]

The greenie weenie? eh maybe. Again depends on how bad it is.
I do like the Dremal bits of them.

White is a nice finishing pad. Red is a work horse. Green is middle.