Minor rust on safety

earlyluger · 08-05-2012, 11:15 PM

So, my M1900 has most of its original blue and has only lost it on the grip frame and grip safety. The grip frame and safety show bare metal with patina for the most part, the safety is the same except for a small spot of rust, about 1/4" by 1/8" in size. I would like to remove this but save the finish/patina that is left. Anyone have a good method for doing this? I was going to use 00000 or 0000 steel wool and RemOil but not sure what that will do to the finish. Please advise, thanks in advance.

mrerick · 08-06-2012, 10:21 AM

On a small area like that consider starting with a small well oiled tuft of fine 0000 bronze wool (you can get it from most hardware stores) on the tip of a wooden shaft Q-Tip. Use a circular motion. This should let you get loose red oxide off the surface. You can then follow it with a similar small well oiled tuft of steel wool which is harder. Be more conservative about using the steel wool. Use a well lit work area so that you can see into the finish and closely observe what your actions are doing.

This should not impact the bluing that is present on the finish in that area. This may alter the area that has lost it's finish. The safety lever should have been strawed, and that finish may be affected differently than rust blued or fire blued metal. In addition, with aging, the straw's surface finish can shift to other types of oxide.

It would help if you could post a picture.

Marc

earlyluger · 08-06-2012, 06:09 PM

There is a picture in the new collectors section. Might not be a very good picture. It is under my recent purchase posted within the past month. As I said a very small area. I will see if I can find fine bronze wool as I already have the steel wool. I do not think I have any strawing left on the safety, just patina.

alvin · 08-06-2012, 10:11 PM

Old guns with minor rust is actually pretty. One option is to leave rust spots alone, but covered by wax so it won't grow.

Edward Tinker · 08-06-2012, 10:53 PM

It depends on the 'rust' / whether it is actual rust or patina.

If rust, even covered up, it should still slowly 'eat' away?

earlyluger · 08-08-2012, 01:29 AM

It's rust, trust me. I know what real rust looks like. And yeah I do not want a hole in the safety if I can prevent it.

08-05-2012, 11:15 PM	#1
earlyluger User Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 27 Thanks: 11 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Minor rust on safety So, my M1900 has most of its original blue and has only lost it on the grip frame and grip safety. The grip frame and safety show bare metal with patina for the most part, the safety is the same except for a small spot of rust, about 1/4" by 1/8" in size. I would like to remove this but save the finish/patina that is left. Anyone have a good method for doing this? I was going to use 00000 or 0000 steel wool and RemOil but not sure what that will do to the finish. Please advise, thanks in advance.

08-06-2012, 10:21 AM	#2
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,900 Thanks: 1,372 Thanked 3,094 Times in 1,503 Posts	On a small area like that consider starting with a small well oiled tuft of fine 0000 bronze wool (you can get it from most hardware stores) on the tip of a wooden shaft Q-Tip. Use a circular motion. This should let you get loose red oxide off the surface. You can then follow it with a similar small well oiled tuft of steel wool which is harder. Be more conservative about using the steel wool. Use a well lit work area so that you can see into the finish and closely observe what your actions are doing. This should not impact the bluing that is present on the finish in that area. This may alter the area that has lost it's finish. The safety lever should have been strawed, and that finish may be affected differently than rust blued or fire blued metal. In addition, with aging, the straw's surface finish can shift to other types of oxide. It would help if you could post a picture. Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

08-06-2012, 06:09 PM	#3
earlyluger User Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 27 Thanks: 11 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	There is a picture in the new collectors section. Might not be a very good picture. It is under my recent purchase posted within the past month. As I said a very small area. I will see if I can find fine bronze wool as I already have the steel wool. I do not think I have any strawing left on the safety, just patina.

08-06-2012, 10:11 PM	#4
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	Old guns with minor rust is actually pretty. One option is to leave rust spots alone, but covered by wax so it won't grow.

08-06-2012, 10:53 PM	#5
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,915 Thanks: 1,989 Thanked 4,506 Times in 2,080 Posts	It depends on the 'rust' / whether it is actual rust or patina. If rust, even covered up, it should still slowly 'eat' away?

08-08-2012, 01:29 AM	#6
earlyluger User Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 27 Thanks: 11 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	It's rust, trust me. I know what real rust looks like. And yeah I do not want a hole in the safety if I can prevent it.