Gun Trader's Trick To Remove Rust Safely, Quickly, and With No Chemicals!

STOP what you are about to do to remove surface rust from your firearm and watch this simple tutorial.
More extensive rusting can be removed with a bronze or copper bristle brush gently worked into the rust with generous amounts of oil and finished off with the OOOO grade steel wool.
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[@HughesEnterprises]

“But... But... OiL iS a ChEmIcAl!” 😑 “ThE RuSt IsN’t ReMoVeD ThE oIl Is JuST cOVeRiNg iT uP!” 🙄 OK forensic video watchers, you want to tell me the barrel I have in my possession that you’ve never seen in person is actually still rusty? Second edit: I now have a video on my channel showing the same barrel that was treated nearly three years later with no maintenance also with a close up showing rust removal on a Walther PPK. Third edit: I’m seeing more people recommending the “penny trick”. Why waste an hour rubbing a penny over your entire shotgun and leaving copper fouling everywhere when this method works in seconds and does no harm? Fourth edit: Yes WD-40 and 3 in 1 oil and baby oil and mineral oil and Remoil will all work. Fifth edit: I am aware of bronze wool and the added expense and need to remove copper fouling after use. I use steel wool. Sixth edit: rust inside the barrel. There are more detailed answers in the comment section- but shotguns, wrap steel wool around a bronze bore brush with lots of oil. 10-15 passes should clean it up nicely. Rifles- use up several regular bronze bore brushes and oil before wrapping steel wool on the brush. It will destroy the sharpness of the rifling but can improve safety by removing rust that can cause excessive pressure. Both cases go slow and check for results. Seventh edit: yep, boiling the gun will convert red rust to black. This is rust bluing. Rust bluing without prep work polishing out or draw filing pits will give the appearance of a bad refinishing job and will hurt the value of guns more than having a bare patch of steel. Eighth edit: Preventing rust in the future… you should be inspecting your guns for rust at least monthly even if you aren’t using them. You will be able to catch insignificant problems before a gunsmith has to fix them. A wipe down with any oil and a soft cloth will be fine after handling. That’s all it takes. For more durable protection and for carry/hunting/utility guns a light coat of Renaissance Wax will protect them. Johnson’s paste wax can also be used on the metal and wood. Carry guns may need to be cleaned and oiled every night! Guns should always be stored in open circulating room temperature dry air whenever possible, but since most people keep their guns in safes, a dehumidifier is necessary. Guns should never be stored in soft gun cases as the cotton lining will trap moisture and hold it against the steel. Silicone treated gun socks can help prevent hand oils/salts from getting on guns you’re moving around in the safe. But they should still be checked on regularly. Guns stored on racks should be checked regularly where felt pads meet the barrel to make sure rust doesn’t form there. Ninth edit: if you want me to see your comment, post a new one, I never get notified of replies.

[@WhyPhi]

😂😂 as a chemist, I was tempted but I fought back the urge!

[@daled8221]

He used a synthetic even. Haha! Hopefully I'll never have to try his method. Ut-oh, I better go check them!

[@billquigley8100]

Yes. Oil is a chemical, but it is the only chemical to use on your guns. Stop being a dweeb. Everyone else understood his point. But we can wait for you to catch up. Great video. Great information.

[@daled8221]

@@billquigley8100 Wound up a little tight are ya? Yes I would do this if I had to.

[@grantodamax]

Im not doubting your method and actually its a good one. but motor oil contains chemicals. If i really wanted to be a smartass i could say the steel wool is made of chemicals because anything on the periodic table is technically considered a chemical. Good video

[@1notgilty]

The high school students used an angle grinder to remove the rust from a civil war rifle. It's painful just to hear that story.

[@russelmurray9268]

I trust those students were held back for a year or so

[@1notgilty]

​@@russelmurray9268 This reminds me of an episode of Antiques Road Show. The appraisers told the owners of a Tiffany lamp that they had good news and bad news. The good news was that the lamp was worth $5,000. The bad news was that it would have been worth $50,000 if they hadn't shined it up.

[@piranhaplantX]

@@1notgilty yet another case of "if you don't know what the fuck you're doing, don't do it"

[@joedelgado8467]

A grinder to remove rust from any firearm is painful to hear

[@southernlonghorn4507]

Held back a year…they deserve a thorough beating 🤦🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️

[@deviantsid18]

That angle grinder story sent chills up my spine...

[@PlanePreacher]

Alex Squatch I sucked air when i heard it!

[@deviantsid18]

@@PlanePreacher giggity

[@charlesreynolds5323]

had a face like i smelled dog mess when he talked about that.

[@lazylefthand]

Kids are dumb, what do you expect.

[@gedion4000]

Those were the days. A time when people were responsible enough to have gun class in school.

[@leadmine8924]

Ive used this method for years as a professional gunsmith. I make one substitution: Use Bronze wool instead of steel wool. The leftover bits of steel wool will rust away leaving mure "red rust" spots if not removed by compressor air or such. Bronze is also softer on the blued finish. If you want to strip it down to bare steel real quick, I suggest using a green pot scrubber pad!

[@Macadamia923]

@ Lead mine. I just acquired an m1903 RIA rifle and would like to clean the wood stock and handguard. Is there a safe way to do it? or should I just leave it alone?

[@uncletio0428]

@@Macadamia923 Wood stock = 3/4 cup of canola oil, mixed with 1/4 cup of Apple Cider Vinegar. - (*Research this before applying and decide if it's what you want to do. Perhaps test a very small place on gun; or another gun?)

[@Macadamia923]

@@uncletio0428 Thanks! I will try this.

[@nexusofice9135]

I use a Magic Eraser pad. It is the abrasive equivalent of 5000 grit sand paper. And you can softly apply it and fill it with oils or other fluid of your choice after it is cleaned out. You can easily see it strip away red rust but not the blueing or other finishes.

[@ArmaGuyz]

Hey man Ive got an old Replica of the 1858 Army Black powder Pistol. I just got through replacing some parts on it and noticed the Cylinder and barrel are rusty. It appears to be just surface rust. But Im not a gunsmith so I dont know how exactly to go about restoring it without removing the bluing. At first I thought white vinegar, then I read some people use Transmission Fluid and Acetone mix. Then I saw a video said to spray with Carburetor Cleaner rinse off with water then boil the parts and last use 40 steel wool. Now Im reading here that you use Bronze because the steel wool hairs.. So do I just forget about boiling it and use regular bronze wool no oil? What grain of wool do you use? Do I just stuff some Bronze wool down the barrel with some kind of cleaning rod? abd thatll do the trick?

[@claudiodominguez.]

I agree and if I could just add one other tip. The 0000 steel wool as you mentioned is very fine and tends to break apart so I suggest to use a compressor and thoroughly blow off any steel hairs because they are rust bombs.

[@HughesEnterprises]

Yes you should always get rid of the steel hairs. Good tip!

[@hogdog51]

Use a can of computer duster not an air compressor . Air compressors can blow a fine mist of condensation , computer duster is a dry inert gas .

[@britskihambone8158]

@@hogdog51 Very good idea, thanks!

[@nicholashodges201]

@@hogdog51 the canned air can still chill the metal enough for condensation to form. Also you never know what garbage made it's way into the can, particularly the cheap stuff

[@louisc.gasper7588]

@@hogdog51 Many of us have water separators in the air line from the compressor. It is a standard precaution to keep moisture from getting into air tools.

[@markgoostree6334]

I have used this method to clean up several older guns with great results. You, with this one video , may have saved thousands of guns from total destruction!! good job!

[@alpulley4894]

My dad was a gunsmith, seen him use steel wool as you described when I was a kid. Great tip

[@jamespruitt6718]

Great tip with the steel wool. I collect older camping lanterns, several nickel plated. The 0000 wool does wonders for polishing without scratching it up.

[@seabiscuit5327]

Thanks for the angle grinder tip, I been waiting to use mine.

[@HughesEnterprises]

Works for weight reduction too. Just a few lightening cuts through the bolt and barrel and it’ll be lighter than it was before.

[@truthfulconch7773]

@@HughesEnterprises that response sir, got you a sub.

[@ellenbrooks5028]

@@truthfulconch7773 HE DOES NOT WANT A SUBMARINE HE WANTS A NEW GUN

[@Foxxie55]

I just dragged couple of my guns out of the gun cabinet and noticed a little rust in spots after setting for a few years so I thought I'd checked YT to see if anyone has a quick solution... A big thumbs up on video.. Thanks

[@benhawkins163]

I had went hunting and water had gotten into my gun case and I did not know it and the gun sat for about a week and it had surface rust on it so now I can take it off

[@youngsterc]

Does it work? I see minor rust spots on top of my colt 45 I don’t want to damage it’s titanium color

[@PLAZALOT58]

I’ve used this method for years. Works great. I’ve alway just used Rem gun oil but I like your idea of using motor oil, much cheaper and probably better lubrication. This 0000 steel wool method also works amazingly on chrome although I use chrome polish instead of oil.

[@DayRider76]

I do the same thing. I use an industrial lubricant that I get from work for air compressors called R&O, comes in different weights (68, 100) etc. It stands for Rust and Oxidation. It's for carbon steel equipment that sees a lot of condensation. I use it exclusively on everything from guns, knives, tools, guitars, appliances etc. Its a crystal clear synthetic and I love it. Give it a look.

[@terryfalwell3896]

HONEST, USABLE KNOWLEDGE FOR FREE ON KZbin! WHO WOULD HAVE THUNK IT? THANK YOU, SIR.

[@HughesEnterprises]

Thanks for watching!

[@Ye-ci2ti]

Ha thunk

[@ferrallderrall6588]

I subbed ,still hild on the dream to resurrect about 4 from the ol farm that my bro says are done,not even sure they are still around but would be worthy even if its only around 50% redone

[@nicknoyb8067]

I've learned how to restore, build, clean, repair, repurpose, refinish countless different things on KZbin. Trick is to just do some counter searches and cross referencing to make sure you have an accurate tutorial or to learn a better methods. I've also learned tons about almost every type of artwork. My drawings and sketches went from cartoon like/ okay to being able to do people's portraits or even their pets with a pencil in less than 2 years so I'd say there's tons of useful information on KZbin Don't let it go to waste.

[@flamingosextet8649]

Thank you! I inherited a couple of guns with a little rust on them, and this video is very helpful.

[@HughesEnterprises]

Saving old guns is my mission

[@truthfulconch7773]

@@HughesEnterprises I have a westernfield 20 gauge. Also known as a Mossberg 385K. I've been wondering about a non corrosive way to remove the surface rust. Do you use motor oil as a lubricant for all aspects of firearm lubrication? Bolt carriers, bolts, and other moving parts suseptable to wear.

[@chuckjenkins4830]

Been doing this for years! First time that I actually saw someone else do it!! Subbed!

[@HughesEnterprises]

Thanks Chuck!

[@brianek2744]

Brother your channel is awesome, but what’s even more awesome, is that you take the time to answer everyone’s questions. Even the dumb ones you answer with kindness. Definitely earned a Sub from me. Great content, keep it up 👍🏻

[@HughesEnterprises]

Thanks, Brian!

[@johnlshilling1446]

I'm 65, your average outdoorsman throughout my life, and I've always had a particular interest in "fixin' things".., from an early age. Before my teens, I discovered -- on my own -- how well steel wool worked at removing rust. 60+ years before I've come across anyone else that knew of its worth. Running in the wrong crowd? From some of the comments, it appears that steel wool is not a secret, but it's secret enough. 😉 Thanks for this video. As you mentioned, far too many firearms are ruined unnecessarily. Far too many -- of all types of things -- are ruined by an overabundance of desire, ignorance, and confidence.

[@omicrondec]

Thank you! This is amazingly simple.

[@Fast2Whls]

Great video. Simple techniques proven over time. People have been taking care of guns for about 3 centuries now without harsh chemicals.

[@LostPanzer]

As a gun lover I thank you for helping me in cleaning my shotgun it worked wonders!!! She's as beautiful as ever hitting that sub button

[@gusloader581]

I like this idea. I bought and used one of the "Rust Removers" on a Rem. M700 for a very small rust area near barrel/chamber about five years ago. Maybe about 1/8" by 1/2". Wanted to stop the rust from spreading. Applied the "Rust Remover" stuff and it took off the rust but also the whole exterior finish for about 1" by 3". :-( I just "subscribed".

[@challes2000]

Thanks..tried it on 22 cal rifle sitting in closet for 50 years. The 0000 steel wool with engine oil took off surface rust while leaving the bluing very nicely. Unfortunately some parts of rifle the rust ate through bluing and into the barrel. Took the rust off but I would need to do some sanding and rebluing if it was a heirloom rifle. It's a cheap $100 single shot so I'm happy with results. My sister gave me recipe to restore wood cabinets (3/4 cup canola oil mix with 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar. I rubbed this on stock and it restored the stock to look almost like brand new. Which is not bad considering this was a rifle used for training by high schoolers in a NRA rifle club.

[@charlespierce2804]

Hey, thanks for the recipe..

[@rgman1665]

Thank you so much for your simple yet in-depth tutorial. You have saved me a lot of worry and money. Thank you

[@HughesEnterprises]

Happy to save some guns!

[@elihernandez330]

Never watched this video before but thank you very much since you proved an old friend right. An old friend of mine told me to use very fine steel wool coated with a bit of oil like motor oil and to go back and forth in one direction on the rusted metal with very light pressure but fast passes or to use Scotch-Brite if I didn't have any. He told me to not go completely dry. He said the steel wool with light pressure and fast passes is abrasive enough to remove rust but the oil helps to not be too aggressive and lubricate and act as a bit of a cleaner and that particle suspender. Works perfectly. I also use just regular motor oil. Same friend told me to also use diesel oil since it's supposedly got more rust inhibitors and it naturally coming in thicker grades means it's a thicker coating, but modern oils have more rust inhibitors than before. Never had a rust or filth issue using motor oil. I feel like it's a lie told by gun oil makers to get you to buy their hyper overpriced stuff instead of using motor oil or really any oil like atf, power steering, and gear oil if there are no yellow metals it'll come into contact with since the sulphur in mosy gear oils can degrade yellow metals. But you almost never find that in guns except for the ejectable casings of course. Great to see the same method I was taught long ago.

[@Tripp426]

Wow! So simple, yet so effective. Thanks for sharing this very valuable info. I have an older GP WASR-10 that has some surface rust on it. I'll have to give this a try.

[@HughesEnterprises]

Absolutely. My first MAK-90 was a rust bucket that I bought cheap because of that. Five minutes with oil and OOOO steel wool and it looked like a new gun. Sold it a few weeks later and doubled my money.

[@user-xz6wv9gd1l]

Which oil out of all that you’ve used you do recommend?

[@RaineyPowerTraining]

Thanks so much! I have an old Ruger Mark 3 I am going to do this on.

[@himalforrest749]

I have a KK Wehrsprortgewehr i was about to use acid on and I wanted to do more research before I got started. I’m glad I did, thank you.

[@HughesEnterprises]

Happy to save another gun!

[@JayDee-bz2ge]

Soo glad I saw your video. My uncle died & left the family his treasures, but he was in Tennessee... 99% humidity & by the time they were moved to Arizona, half were rusted.. We used the EXACT method you just showed, & it's a oily messy job.

[@HughesEnterprises]

But the rust is gone! Glad I could help.

[@RajunCajun1]

Thank you for the before and after picture! Those two pictures made a big difference and what you were saying versus what we could see! Great job sir!

[@forrestmorgan3222]

Thank YOU for Intelligent Answer !!

[@1EVILZ06]

I’ve got one a old old gun guy showed me. Works flawlessly.

[@williamcollins4082]

Well ??? Carpenters Pencil ??? Worn out jeans ? Wool ?

[@joenicholson6597]

I followed your video and the old Winchester model 12 and Ithica model 37 look really good. I inherited both when my mother passed away and they were a mess. It didn't take long to do it and they both look great. Thank you

[@HughesEnterprises]

Thanks for the comment Joe! Glad they got saved and you can enjoy them.

[@williamcollins4082]

I use a carpenters pencil the wide flat type . The lead is just abrasive yet soft enough to not damage blueing

[@butchglancy3850]

I agree. I use G96 Gun-treatment instead of oil.

[@stonescapelamps]

Thanks for sharing your knowedge and experience!!!

[@joshmichiels9904]

I've been using this method for years. People are always amazed at how I make their guns look in a matter of minutes right before their eyes.

[@HughesEnterprises]

Thanks for watching! I’m amazed how many people didn’t know to do this.

[@recordsstuff3930]

I did this on my single action shotgun worked well. i used old us army bore cleaner. and the steel wool you said to use. Worked very well.

[@jgmopar]

For Chrome car bumpers I used to use 0000 Steel wool then tried the Aluminum foil trick and the foil worked better on Chrome. I love these types of videos.

[@DreadSpawn1]

I'm glad I found your channel. I was considering getting rust remover for my shotgun because other videos said that's what you need. Thanks for the info. I'll be heading out for some 0000 on payday.

[@HughesEnterprises]

Dread Spawn Nice! Let me know how it turns out.

[@veronder]

This is why I dont trust the internet, Dread spawn states one has watched videos (more than one) then implys more than one content creator then proceeds to say this one video has they right methodology. The OP replys after having made a video saying they've done this to countless firearms and yet ask you to report back how it went as if one doesnt know.... Humans are strange creatures, I shall try on homemade first.....all I own

[@HughesEnterprises]

@@veronder I know it’ll work I just want to hear how happy they are with their guns in better condition. With this video I’ve probably saved 10,000-50,000+ guns from being irreparably damaged from improper cleaning methods. Over 400K views and I would bet the viewers also tell their friends how to do it. I love hearing stories of how they saved their family heirlooms or how they saved money and a trip to the gunsmith.

[@stealthmode2168]

@@veronder it's a good trait not to believe everything you see on the internet, it's also a good trait to use critical thinking.

[@jayroller7054]

@@veronderYou’re overthinking this buddy. 😂

[@nelsonmcatee3721]

Just what I needed. I have a few collectors items and a house with a lot of humidity.

[@Bogie3855]

I have successfully done this for years. As a woodworker I keep stock of 0000 steel wool and use a bit of oil and steel wool to clean my tools. I have used some touch up cold blue on occasion but for the most part I do not need to. Good vid. This is good info to have.

[@HughesEnterprises]

Thanks for watching!

[@paint1016]

My Remington 870 in my truck for a few months and it had covered in rust. Going to try this. Thanks

[@dirtywhiteboy4963]

thanks buddy ,..i have been aware of this for quite awhile but i also realize that many,..many people will attack the problem with something way heavier ! thanks again!

[@HughesEnterprises]

Thanks for watching!

[@wizardofahhhs759]

This is exactly how I clean the rust off of my carbon steel knives.

[@HughesEnterprises]

I actually like the gray patina a cleaned rusted knife gets

[@everready19373]

I put a mustard patina on my knives. It etches the metal and helps to keep it from rusting.

[@randyblackburn9765]

@@everready19373 did you ever stick the blade in a potato and leave over night ? I did this with a German Eye stockman and next morning the shiny blade was black as the ace of spades

[@nytia117]

Worked perfectly for me. Great tip. Thanks for posting

[@emandejnozka1369]

. . .And THANK YOU for this simple, yet effective technique.

[@catfish4110]

Thanks for letting us know how to make a firearm look like newI have been considering rebluing my childhood BB gun but thanks to you I’ll try it your way thanks thanks thanks

[@TheSonsOfSimon]

Thank you! This really helped me understand the concept. I have always been told not to use steel wool (no matter the coarseness), because it is steel, and will damage the steel upon which is lapped. I had been told to use a brass/bronze brush due to the softer steel. I had heard that lubrication should used, but I had never been told that gun lubricants were inadequate (though it does make sense).

[@HughesEnterprises]

Most gun lubricants are just overpriced repackaged automotive lubricants or various combinations of common solvents. The only time OOOO steel wool will hurt the finish is if you’re rubbing too hard or not using oil. I’ve even used a very coarse brillo pad once and did not scratch the finish when applying little to no pressure and just letting the wool cut the rust and suspend it in the oil. I don’t like bronze/brass wool because it doesn’t cut the rust as well and you have to clean bronze fouling off with a solvent when finished.

[@supressorgrid]

Steel wool is much softer than gun steel 0000 will not harm bluing.

[@Sduell60]

I used this method to restore a rusted out WWII sniper training rifle... But I didn't learn about the method from this video... It was a method I learned from detail cleaning the chrome on cars, especially the bumpers. Removes the rust without scratching. Thanks

[@Daniel-vu4qu]

Cheers mate! I have a Ruger American Rifle that has never seen water, however it's starting to get some little rust spots on it. Will give this a try, stoked that it won't effect the blue finish!!

[@crypto_pinto2660]

Rifle looks great by the way thank you for the video

[@chrisfangeat6651]

Copper penny and oil works good, also brass or bronze wool and oil work great

[@drd1924]

I learned years ago as a teen, in auto shop such as for refurbishing car parts. Solvent and 0000 steel wool works well too. I will have to try this Auto Oil trick though.

[@scottmichael3745]

Good stuff! Thanks for the tip. I'm going to try it on a rusty 870 express I've had sitting for years. Much appreciated amigo.

[@Lanther85]

I just used this method to clean up my dad's Taurus UltraLite that had rust on the sites, barrel, and cylinder. It worked great.

[@HughesEnterprises]

Nice! Pretty sure that’s a stainless gun? I’ve found once stainless rusts once it’s likely to rust in the exact same spot again. A very light coat of Renaissance wax or even Johnson’s paste wax if that’s all you can get will prevent rust again and will protect a carry gun longer than just oil.

[@Silvermeow]

@@HughesEnterprises what about petroleum jelly?

[@fly_swatter_]

@@Silvermeow petroleum jelly will collect every single speck of dust that passes it. If you are curious if I'm right or wrong...smear some imin a paper plate...let sit in the cleanest area of your home for 72 hours. Brace yourself for the results.

[@Silvermeow]

@@fly_swatter_ nice as long as it protects it

[@avidhuntr]

0000 steel wool is also great on the windshield of your automobile, learned this trick from a gentleman who detailed cars for a living. It removes all the road grime bugs you name it....gone. I've also used it for polishing my firearms. I wouldn't recommend this method on stainless barrels for polishing or cleaning

[@kennkrizsanitz7820]

Just a FYI for bug mess on the truck paint use a dryer sheet wet works like magic, will need to wash off residual

[@wvtrapperdude5358]

thank u so much u just saved a .22 if mine that got really rusted while on the trapline great video!

[@HughesEnterprises]

Glad to help! Love knowing I have saved hundreds if not thousands of guns from being scrapped, turned into wall hangers, or sold for parts.

[@ryanlaroche9302]

Thanks man. I have a Browning 12 GA auto 5 pretty tarnished from longevity/storage situation and use. Going to give this a whirl.

[@HughesEnterprises]

Worked great on a $199 Auto 5 Light Twelve I saved from a gun shop! Make sure you have the right steel wool and use lots of oil. Good luck!

[@charlespratt8663]

I like brass wool myself. Very gentle on the finish.

[@paulcallicoat7597]

And unlike the steel wool it won't get into your skin and hurt for days if you aren't wearing gloves which Hughes wasn't doing.He might have thick skin but I don't.Wear rubber chemical gloves and disassemble the gun before starting as you will want to get under the stock as it will have rust,too.

[@TheBeaker59]

I do this, I usually however wash first with plain hot water to remove any soluble salts, they can come from several sources like salt sea mist, corrosive ammo, the shooters sweat, etc etc. We hunt a pine forest right beside a surf beach occasionally I always wash my firearms with hot water after going there.

[@ChrisLichowicz]

@G Thompson Hottest water we could get and Tide laundry soap! Then the LSA... Semper Fi - Panama, '84 UNITAS BTW, nobody uses Coca Cola anymore??

[@gusloader581]

@G Thompson :-) I had not heard of that method before. I was an 0331. Okinawa is a humidity factory. The only way to get that M-60 cleaned was to make sure the Platoon Sergeant was not in the Squad bay area, then take the M-60 to the deep sink ( normally for the mop bucket ;-) ) and turn on the hot water and wash the crud down the drain. Wipe the M-60 dry and then put a thin film of L.S.A. on it and return it to the Company Armorer. Viola!

[@ferrallderrall6588]

So many great tips

[@DL101ca]

Throw it in the dishwasher...😱

[@yepiratesworkshop7997]

@@DL101ca Naa... That's only for pistols. Make sure you unload them first, unless you're Alec Baldwin.

[@phantomvideo4237]

Simple yet extremely effective!! Thank you 👍

[@HughesEnterprises]

Thanks for watching!

[@Cheezyfosheezy]

That is an invaluable tip my friend thank you.

[@spiffyspiferson1662]

Thanks a bunch, ill have to try this on my rusty 870.

[@JohnSmith-py9fx]

Spiffy spiferson did it work?

[@spiffyspiferson1662]

It definitely helped. Depending on how bad the rust is I'd try it.

[@sethhahn4109]

Thank you so much brutha I have a brand new 10 22 never fired sitting around has a bit of oxidation on it, had me worried

[@HughesEnterprises]

Should come right off no problem. You would be amazed how many new guns ship out rusty

[@rogerwasylciw2896]

Great information! Wrecked my neglected hunting rifle with CLR when I was young, wish I knew back then.

[@HughesEnterprises]

CLR can be pretty harsh on a gun! Thanks for watching.

[@HaurakiVet]

I have used steel wool for rust removal for many years. I have also used it with a rod to bring a dubious bore in breech loading and muzzle loading rifles to a gleaming finish.

[@melgillham462]

I was blessed to learn this trick early on. My stepfather had a circa 1913 6.5x 55. Swedish mauser he brought back from over seas. Sadly the armorers disc was removed but I watched him clean it and he edjumacated me..😉 still have it, still a straight shooter. Took many deer in my youth with it.

[@DeezCheez69]

Does it still have the full stock?

[@melgillham462]

@@DeezCheez69 yessir.

[@squibster333]

Been doing this for years...honestly thought I was the only one!

[@HughesEnterprises]

Hopefully we’ll stop seeing so many rusted guns at stores and shows now!

[@thomasdillon7761]

I shoot black powder firearms. I tried pyro dex and that's the first time I saw how corrosive it can be even after a thorough cleaning. I'm back in black and used your technologies to correct the corrosion pyrodex caused.

[@ChromaLush]

thanks, and thanks for not putting commercials in the middle of your video💛

[@BigScumdog]

Thanks! Worked like a charm

[@HughesEnterprises]

One more gun saved! Thanks for the comment!

[@qz2026]

I've cleaned hundreds of guns too. By far the absolute best for surface rust, like the rifle in your example, is the Big 45 Frontier Metal Cleaning (pad). This eliminates the rust without affecting the bluing of the metal. For significant pitting oil and 0000 steel wool is probably required but I wouldn't use motor oil - it stinks and is very difficult to remove. But you still have to be able to get into the pits to remove all the rust. That said, steel wool will create oxidation even if immersed for some time within oil or grease. You can't get around this buy using oil and steel wool together. You will always have traces of steel wool held in place against the steel by the oil. I can't tell you how many old weapons I found with active rust growing under grease decades old. For this reason, I rarely use steel wool or any metal that will corrode to remove rust from a rifle or pistol.

[@Its_Melissa_Yall]

So what do you use then?

[@qz2026]

@@Its_Melissa_Yall Most of the time I use the Big 45 Frontier Metal Cleaning (pad). This will remove rust but not the bluing. If significant rust or what some people call patina, I boil the rusted part for an hour or so. Then use either steel wool or a carding wheel to remove the residue. Some metal will need multiple treatments. This method is the only sure way to bring back the original bluing

[@Gruin]

Bronze Wool, No Rust

[@MikeSmith-fe2np]

Nice thanks for the short and sweet video!!!

[@HusbandFatherof4]

Did this for my shotgun and it worked like a dream. So I just restored an older Sig pistol that the owner had thought completely lost, and it looks great! Rust is gone. I'm not a pro, complete noob at guns, but I have a passion for it. Thanks a ton! This is a frikken lifesaver! ❤

[@HughesEnterprises]

Thanks for sharing! Glad I could help save a couple more guns!

[@joet-sk4sw]

Got a good price on a old m6 scout ,it has some rust specs on barrel,gonna try this, thanks

[@Asstazztic]

joe 9990 t how’d it go?

[@blamo4423]

I recently purchased a bargain C96 that has a light rust everywhere. I did light cleaning with Hoppes #9 to no avail so I will try this next. I’ve read this method on a couple forums here and there but some sources said don’t use oil. Thanks!

[@cpt.fignuts]

Thanks so much for this video. I got my late cousin's Mossberg 500A Custom. It has some light surface rust and the part of the wood has faded. I'm going to do this now. Wish me luck and thanks again!!

[@HughesEnterprises]

It’ll work great! Thanks for watching

[@TZmayo]

My grandfather just recently dropped of a old Stevens model 77e at my house and it looks sorta rough. Kinda like yours in the video. Glad to see it probably wont take much to clean it

[@HughesEnterprises]

Not much at all. Then clean it as usual with a gun solvent like Hoppe’s no#9, run a swab through the bore, rub some boiled linseed oil into the wood stock and get out and enjoy your new gun! The 77e can be a quite valuable gun in original condition. Don’t refinish it. Boiled linseed oil in the wood is standard military procedure for maintaining the gun and won’t affect the value.

[@TZmayo]

@@HughesEnterprises thanks! The wood definitely needs some works specifically on the pump so ill be sure to take your advice. Id hate to ruin a gun given to me by him

[@KORR]

Funny, I was looking to clean up my Nova ;)

[@kraggman]

I collect milsurps and I've used this method for years. Works great on tired looking military relics.

[@HughesEnterprises]

Thanks for watching! I have an old video using steel wool on a Japanese Type I Carcano- turned out great!

[@paulschilling6561]

When you get it all cleaned up wipe it all down with a very lightly oiled old fashioned cloth baby diaper

[@kraggman]

@@paulschilling6561 Can you still buy them ?? lol

[@paulschilling6561]

@@kraggman yeah they're still out there and really good for polishing up your truck too !

[@tissuepaper9962]

@@kraggman they are seeing a bit of a resurgence because of the restrictive price and unsustainable nature of disposable diapers.

[@ATINKERER]

You did a great service to the shooting community with this information. Thanks!

[@HughesEnterprises]

You’re welcome! Over 900K views, probably over 100K guns de-rusted, probably $5-10 Million in value added to the used gun market!

[@stevenlengyel9701]

What a good community teaching children the proper use and maintenance of firearms.

[@HughesEnterprises]

Little light rust? Angle grinder is the tool for the job.

[@Squarehead45]

Been doing this since the 50s,,,only I used 3-in-1 oil.

[@tptexan6290]

Thank you. I will try this on an old BB gun setting out in the garage

[@HughesEnterprises]

Let me know how it turns out!

[@chasedescamps5321]

Thank you sir. This video was very helpful.

[@dandahermitseals5582]

Nice tip. Got two items in need of that. Thanks.

[@bcabmac]

Been doing just this all my life to my guns and for restoration. When it comes to old bluing, you really have to use alot of finesse. And he's right about using brass or bronze mini brushes for deep or heavy rust, but they must be fine soft bristle, or it will lift bluing or other finishes around the edge of the pin holes of the rust pits. I often use wd40 and oil mix on very old bluing in delicate areas. Make sure you change to a new pad frequently as you bring the rust down. Or the grit will cut micro abrasion marks in otherwise good save able bluing. On shotgun barrels you can use a solid older copper penny and gently rub back and forth in lines to knock down heavy rust and preserve bluing, but again, lots of finesse and oil. The softer copper is the trick. But learn first on a less valuable shotgun before attempting saving a valuable one and hone your skill. Good luck. Great advise video here. He probably just helped save thousands of historic guns by posting this.

[@HughesEnterprises]

Finally someone who understands what I’m trying to do!!! Great tips.

[@lrballistics]

One of the most useful fun tips videos out there. My Zastava m70 is starting to get little rust spots so this is really going to come in handy. Thanks dude!

[@HughesEnterprises]

I’ve spiffed up a number of AK’s with this method. Thanks for watching!

[@betokendollcrotchorourke6007]

NYET rifle is fine

[@curtiswhite282]

Great video, got to try this on a couple of mine, thanks

[@walterfisher9795]

Awesome information. Keep up your great work.

[@BigATB]

I'm particularly fond of two methods. For light surface rust, I do what the military arsenals did when guns came in rusty. STEAM! It's the same process as slow rust bluing. Gently brush away any grime or rust flakes, degrease, and hang in a PVC pipe hooked up to a pressure cooker for the steam. The Fe2O3 is converted to FeO, card off the black dust, and it perfectly matches the pre-existing finish on many early arms. The other is a process used by museum curators and archaeologist to neutralize and remove rust from priceless artifacts: ELECTROLYSIS. 12v at 500-1200mA will pull off the rust and convert wants left to FeO, very efficient.

[@pyrogothica3906]

I know this is an old comment but could you perhaps elaborate on the process (the steam one) a bit more? I have a 1942 no1 mk3 smle and was wondering if this process would work for it.

[@kylefarris4686]

@@pyrogothica3906 midway USA has a gunsmithing video on how to rust blue a gun. They use a homemade steam chamber and card off the dust.

[@jaychapman6448]

Hadn't thought of it for a barrel but I've used electrolysis to take care of badly rusted cast iron frying pans - works very well and there are lots of videos on how to do it. One thing I found is that some battery chargers will not produce current unless there is the right load in the circuit so I had to hook the charger to an old battery with the battery connected to the cast iron.

[@hananas2]

I'm not a gun guy but I'm gonna see how well this works on classic bicycles where I wanna keep the paint but get rid of the rust

[@ferrallderrall6588]

Had a outdoor smoker and a bbq with no cover that both started getting pretty rusty ,both seemed rejuvenated with a paint brush and used canola, still seem ok after a couple more seasons

[@EnderBOT122]

A bronze brush or copper kitchen pad also works great too

[@ace-kz9id]

I will be trying this out on my Remington model 31 soon in so glad to see there is somthing I can do to save my super old gun I inherited. I will update this after I try it

[@HughesEnterprises]

Keep me posted. I love those old shotguns. It would be a shame for it to be relegated as a wall hanger, or worse, parts.

[@ace-kz9id]

@@HughesEnterprises I haven't done it yet but I do want to inform you it does fire but sadly a small part of the stock broke off when I tested it. It's a fairly small piece so I can live it with. On a side note do you have any advice on how to clean the inside of the gun. Because the inside is fairly clean outside of 50-60 year old gun that had been in there. And I dont own a gunsmith kit so I cant remove the pins Only reason I haven't tried cleankng the rust off is in waiting on Amazon to deliver my OOOO steel wool.

[@HughesEnterprises]

ace142014 Save that piece that broke off it can be glued back on. I’m guessing the stock was kinda loose? The action will batter into the wrist of the stock and break it. There is a product called Gunscrubber that comes in a spray can. Take off the stock and hose down the inside. Do it outside. Try to scrub what you can get to with a toothbrush. Then re-oil what you can get to anywhere parts move. And of course re-oil the outside to prevent further rust.

[@ace-kz9id]

@@HughesEnterprises the little bit that broke was weirdly was right by the bottom side of the recoil pad at it went flying so I could only find some of the wood that broke. And honestly I dont think with this model I can remove the stock without removing a pen. I will say thanks for being very helpful because I havent been able to find nothing about this online honestly. Also one more maybe dum question but do all all old shotguns kick like a 12 gauge. This gun has a ton of recoil and is much louder compared to the single shot 20 gauge I grew up shooting (again this is a 20 gauge) so I am just am curious

[@HughesEnterprises]

ace142014 The toe of the stock which is the piece you’re describing is pretty common to see broken especially if the gun has been dropped before. No big deal. If you remove the two screws in the butt pad/plate and take it off there will likely be a deep hole and at the bottom a screw that holds the stock in place. If the stock is tight and doesn’t wobble, don’t take it off, but if it’s even a little loose that screw needs to be fastened or you risk damaging the stock more. You’ll need a very long screwdriver. Yep, all 12 gauge manually operated guns will hit you the same. Lighter guns hit harder than heavier guns. Hard plastic butt pads definitely don’t help. If you’ve got a rubber pad, it’ll take most of the pain out of it. But you’ve still got to pull the gun tight into your shoulder so it pushes your whole upper body. If it’s up at your shoulder but you’re not pulling it in, you’re giving it a chance to get up to speed and punch you in the collar bone. Also leaning forward a bit into the gun will help. But if that doesn’t help, you’ve discovered why 20 and 28 gauge shotguns are so popular.

[@tomballard8877]

Been doing that for years,also l have used heavy denim

[@johng2880]

Earthly denim will suffice as well.

[@slastname7224]

What kind of oil?

[@Imwright720]

I have some very old guns given to me by my grandfather. One is completely rusted through but the others look ok except the rust. I’ll give this a shot on one of them.

[@HughesEnterprises]

Even the really bad one, rub a bronze bristle brush with oil into the rust and check for results. You might be surprised how much original finish is left on it!

[@hughbo52]

Wow thanks. I have Marlin. 22 Golden that I've had just over 55 years. I have noticed a small amount of rust on the barrel even though I thoroughly wipe it down after each use. I'm so picky my kids know not to touch the metal. Good post.

[@creativetradesman6833]

Will this work with chromed pieces as well? I have a old H&R 12g break action that was my grandfathers. The chromed receiver is pretty crusty. I have left it alone because I didn’t know what would work without destroying it.

[@HughesEnterprises]

If it’s older than 40 ish years old it’s probably nickel plated, not chromed. It’s a fragile finish. If it’s flaking or bubbled nothing can be done for it except get the loose stuff off and hope the rest stays bonded. Steel wool and oil will take off the loose stuff but you might end up with a lot less nickel than what you started with.

[@mma1st105]

That grinder story is the real reason guns are banned in schools.

[@TheUncleRuckus]

I like to use 4 ought bronze wool to do this. My grandfather showed me trick similar this with a pre 1980s penny to remove stubborn spots.

[@thatfeeble-mindedboy]

You should try the scrubbers that are made of tightly coiled 1/16th inch wide stainless steel strip or ribbon. They use more of shaving action than a gouging action like steel wool does. On a near-microscopic level, anyway ... like if you were removing a paint spatter from a tile surface... you could use a a single edge razor blade, or you could use an ice pick... either one will get it off, but of course the ice pick does more damage than it fixes. After soaking with a high ammonia content detergent for 15-20 minutes, I have removed dead bugs from my bumper cover, plastic headlight bezels, (lenses), painted and ‘chromed’ plastic grill, windshield, all of it, and these are baked-on bugs that laughed in the face of commercial ‘bug-and-tar’ remover. I use the lightest of touches, barely enough pressure to even make contact. It’s all about rapid motion parallel to the surface - again, a shaving action. If you don’t believe me, grab one of each at the store next time and give your bare forearm a few swipes. In the case of the coiled-stainless-ribbon-scrubby, you will have a snowfall of dead skin cells floating to the floor, along with the errant scab, tick, wart, skin tag, squamous cell carcinoma, etc. just before you hand it to the nearest innocent bystander, and begin un-tucking your shirt, ...” would you just scratch my back with this for about a minute, please?”... In the case of the steel wool, I don’t care what “aught” it is ... again, bare forearm, and .. what’s that you say? You don’t want to do that? Why? You said it’s ‘soft’ didn’t you? You don’t want instant murderous debridement and depilatory garden-tiller action on your forearm? Needless to say, I would never get near my car, and certainly not any of my guns, with any gauge of steel wool. I’ve seen the results... no, thank you ... I’ll just clear-coat the whole thing as is, and tell people I paid extra for the ‘patina’ ... good luck. But seriously, DON’T use steel wool on your bare skin, please ...