[TheForge]Gun metal care question

[Andrew Vida]

Pettengill, Nate wrote:
 > I had cleaned and oiled them up then stored
> them in foam-lined cases when I moved but never checked them for a year
> or so.
	
	Foam lining == badness.

 > No place to hunt around here anyway. What to do to refinish them?

	I just reblued a Browning A-5 (Remington manufacture) that was pretty 
rusty, though superficially so.  This is an Arizona gun, so don't think 
that a "dry" environment is any guarantee.

	I would completely disassemble the weapon (if you feel comfortable 
doing so) and begin with fine steel wool on the rusted areas, using 
perhaps some Hoppes nitro solvent as a vehicle.  If the rust is truly 
superficial, you should be able to remove all the rust using this 
method.  I would then wash all metal parts in hot water and dish 
detergent and dry thoroughly.  Lubricate with a good quality machine 
oil, reassemble the weapon, and wrap in a lightly oiled cloth.  I think 
there are cloth tubes available that are treated with some sort of rust 
inhibitors that you can get.

	If this arm has antique or collector value, do as little as possible to 
alter the external appearance of the surfaces.  If it is really worth 
something, I'd have it professionally reblued.  If it isn't a 
collector's item and the rust is significant, I would reblue it myself. 
  I've done several weapons over the years and when I was done, nobody 
could tell that they had been refinished.  To remove blue, cut muriatic 
acid perhaps 1:5 with water and immerse clean and degreased parts in it 
until the old blue is gone, which should take very little time. 
Neutralize in bicarb solution and dry thoroughly.  You may then choose 
whether to refinish the metal or just apply a new blue/brown patina. 
It's a lot of fun... at least I think it is, but I would not attempt it 
on a treasure.

So Nate, how's the job market?  Anything new?  I'm still looking, if you 
can believe that. :(

Adios.

> Fine emery cloth? Then gun blue and Navy grease? Any better ideas?
> 
> 
> Regards, 
> 
> Nate 
> 
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