Rust????

[pete73]

I have 2 .38special that I need to clean up. I have the one soaking in automatic trans fluid to help get rid of some of the light rust. Anybody know of something that might work better. I do have some pitting and a little rust next to the front sight.

[o1dakota440]

try muriatic acid, you can buy it at lowes. it works great on steel and iron, stuff like that. but it will eat aluminum and remove chrome. so watch what you use it on.

[imashooter2]

Bluing is just modified rust. Unless you want to return the gun "to the white" and refinish, do not use muriatic acid or any of the commercial rust removers.

Trans fluid cut with kerosene and four aught steel wool is as good a medicine as any for what you describe.

[Frenchy]

cket over every few days, it works like a polisher, but it will remove your bluing.

Stale coca cola does good on rust, or Pepsi, dont know what the hell is in that, but it cleans Chrome bumpers very well...

[mauser]

cket over every few days, it works like a polisher, but it will remove your bluing.

Stale coca cola does good on rust, or Pepsi, dont know what the hell is in that, but it cleans Chrome bumpers very well...

Phosphoric acid, the same stuff that's in Naval Jelly. Of course it's a lot less concentrated in cola.
That being said, I've never tried using cola as a rust remover, but I'd expect that it would remove bluing as well as rust.

[phill]

Amway scrub bud and penetrating oil. Disclamer::: Do not sell :::: They tell me that Midway has the same thing but have not tried it. When you remove the bloom of the rust it will look better.

[FUNDAMENTALS]

A good friend of mine, "Slim", His son is a chemical engineer, and a few years back came up with the following formula for cleaning, & rust removal as well.
4000 aught steel wool, Eye protection, and rubber gloves. WELL VENTIALATED
CLEANING AREA.
The ratio is 1 to 1 to 1 to 1.
M.E.K. (METHYL-ETHL KEYTONE)
Dextron III Hydraulic Fluid
A1 Kerosene
Mineral Spirits.
Store in Glass Container with Metal Lid, No Plastic bottles, lids, etc.
Field Strip the Revolver, Remove Grips.
Gently rub the affected area. Wiil clean up nicely.
Wipe off debris with clean cloth.
Reccomend you use a test area on a blue steel gun to check for possible
blueing being removed. Area under the grip. Keep away from Sights
I have had no problems in its use. Rifles, Shotgungs, Pistols or Revolvers,
keeps them in great shape.
a

[pete73]

Thanks guys. I'll give it a shot. The one I really want to clean up is a Colt Police Positive. By the serial # it looks to be from the early '50s or late '40s. I'm going to contact Colt and see if they can give me any info on when it was made and where it went to. Always nice finding a piece of history thats been stashed in a box for 20 or 30 years.

[mauser]

A good friend of mine, "Slim", His son is a chemical engineer, and a few years back came up with the following formula for cleaning, & rust removal as well.
4000 aught steel wool, Eye protection, and rubber gloves. WELL VENTIALATED
CLEANING AREA.
The ratio is 1 to 1 to 1 to 1.
M.E.K. (METHYL-ETHL KEYTONE)
Dextron III Hydraulic Fluid
A1 Kerosene
Mineral Spirits.
Store in Glass Container with Metal Lid, No Plastic bottles, lids, etc.
Field Strip the Revolver, Remove Grips.
Gently rub the affected area. Wiil clean up nicely.
Wipe off debris with clean cloth.
Reccomend you use a test area on a blue steel gun to check for possible
blueing being removed. Area under the grip. Keep away from Sights
I have had no problems in its use. Rifles, Shotgungs, Pistols or Revolvers,
keeps them in great shape.
a

I don't want to hijack the thread, but where the hell do you get M.E.K.?
Many years ago we used M.E.K, Carbon Tetrachloride and Toluene where I worked, but between OSHA, EPA, and other powers that be it was deemed as unsafe and became impossible for the average person to get. (The same thing that I can see happening to lead in the not too distant future).
I've gotten used to having acetone and lye as the most volatile cleaning agents in my possession.

[FUNDAMENTALS]

I purchased a 1 gallon container at Lowe's, Other friends have also
purchased it there. I believe you can find it on there website.