r/canadaguns • u/Turtle_9009 • Jun 23 '26
Fix my gun Cleaning rusted guns
Have abunch of old guns that where stored in a unconditioned spaced that have rusted and im woundering the best way to get them cleaned up and back to usable.
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u/Aromatic_Message8952 Jun 23 '26
If you just steel wool and oil you're not getting rid of the active rust.
Take the guns apart, remove any wood, and boil all the rusty parts and action in water that is at a rolling boil. Do this for 45 minutes.
The use steel wool and gently rub it off, is get a carding wheel, and card off the rust.
It's converts the unstable and corrosive Ferricoxide into Ferroferricoxide, which is stable. This how traditional rust bluing was done before caustic bluing became the norm.
This will stabilize the rust, and prevent further decay.
Source* I am a gunsmith.