How to Clean Heavy Rust & Pitted Guns

How to Clean Heavy Rust & Pitted Guns

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A poorly maintained or neglected gun is dangerous to the user and problematic to the health of the gun. It is necessary to clean rusted metal parts and remove pitted parts that have occurred over time. The differences between types of guns and their construction becomes moot when cleaning is needed, and the same type of cleaning tools from a gun store or hobby shop will be sufficient, along with some tools and supplies from the home. Wearing protective clothing, head, hand and eye gear is suggested, as is a careful removal and disposal of any ammunition that might still be in place.

Items you will need

  • Newspaper

  • Gun vise

  • Soft cloth

  • Phillips screwdriver

  • Gun polishing paste

  • Aeorosal gun oil

  • 0000 steel wool

  • Lint free cloth

  • Hones tool

  • Stop collar

  • Screw wrench

  • Gun cloth

  • 150-grip honing stones

  • 60-grip honing stones

Remove Pitting

Step 1

Place a sheet of newspaper on a work surface. Place the gun vise on the newspaper. Place the handle of the gun in the gun vise with the barrel facing to the right.

Step 2

Measure the length of the barrel with the tape measure. Measure from the polishing end of the polishing/hardening tool. Place a stop collar on the mark where the measurement ends.

Step 3

Spray aerosol gun oil into the barrel. Attach the hones tool to the electric drill. Set the electric drill at “medium.” Insert the hones tool in and out of the barrel three or four times.

Step 4

Insert the screw wrench into the hones tool and turn clockwise to expand the hardening stones on the hones tool.

Step 5

Place a gun cloth around the end of the hones tool. Insert the hones tool in and out of the barrel a dozen times. Turn off the electric drill.

Step 6

Insert the screw wrench into the hones tool and turn counterclockwise to release the honing stones. Remove the honing stones. Put the 150-grip honing stones on the hones tool. Insert the screw wrench into the hones tool and turn clockwise to lock the honing stones into position.

Step 7

Spray aerosol gun oil into the barrel. Turn on the electric drill. Insert the hones tool in and out of the barrel eight to 10 times.

Step 8

Place a gun cloth around the end of the hones tool. Insert the hones tool in and out of the barrel a dozen times. Turn off the electric drill.

Step 9

Remove the honing stones and replace them with the 60-grip honing stones. Spray aerosol gun oil into the barrel.

Step 10

Repeat the procedure with the electric drill and the gun cloth as was done before with the 150-grip honing stones.

Step 11

Remove the hones tool from the electric screwdriver. Turn the hones tool around. Spray aerosol gun oil into the barrel.

Step 12

Attach the hones tool to the electric screwdriver. Turn the electric screwdriver on. Insert the polishing end of the hones tool in and out of the barrel a dozen times.

Step 13

Remove the hones tool from the barrel. Turn off the electric drill. Take the hones tool off the electric drill. Remove the gun from the gun vise.

Remove Rust

Step 1

Place a soft cloth on a work surface. Disassemble the gun using a Phillips screwdriver. Place the parts that are rusted on the soft cloth.

Step 2

Apply some gun polishing paste to a soft cloth. Rub the soft cloth on the rusted area of the gun back and forth with a gentle but firm motion. Wipe off the excess with a clean edge of the soft cloth.

Step 3

Apply a small spray of aerosol gun oil to the rusted area of the gun.

Step 4

Rub the rusted area lightly with steel wool in a left to right motion for five minutes. Check for the rust and repeat this action if it is still there.

Step 5

Rub the area with a lint-free cloth.

Step 6

Repeat this entire procedure in small increments to remove any rust from the gun.

Warnings

  • Do not work on a gun in an area that can be approached by children or pets.

Tips

  • Lubrication and oiling of the parts of the gun is also necessary for gun restoration.
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