Rust and pitting removal

[KimberPB]

I've lately been messing around with fixing up old C&R rifles as well as touching up some SIG P225/P6's a friend of mine got in. So far everything has turned out really nice and I enjoy doing it. Well, today a friend gave me an old Smith and Wesson .357 mag revolver that has a nice bit of rust and minor pitting down one side. As well as small amounts of surface rust here and there. He told me he was going to get rid of it but thought he'd see what I could do with it first. This one is without a doubt the worse one I have attempted. I plan on using some oil and 0000 steal wool to remove all the rust, degrease it and see how things look at that point.

I'll post some pics when I get home to show the damage. But I figured someone on here may have experience with rust removal and smoothing out the pits. Any little tips or trick would be very helpful.

After it’s all cleaned up I thought about trying my hand at parkerizing.

Thanks guys and gals

[festus]

once you get the rust off, if the pitting is more than a few thousands of an inch deep, Parkerize it. a good Park job will hide almost all shallow rust damage. A good park job x 2 will give a very durable finish to a gun that would other wise be a boat anchor.:58:

[Red Hat]

+1 on the Parkerizing. If the rust is heavy use Navel Jelly on it and it will dissolve all the rust. Clean it, dry it and sand blast the whole firearm then Parkerize it. Believe me it works great!

[KimberPB]

Thanks alot guys. Here are a few pics of what I have to work with.

[Red Hat]

That's an old Dan Wesson not a S&W. It doesn't look too bad just a lot of surface rust. You probably could buff it out and reblue it.

[KimberPB]

Originally Posted by Red Hat

That's an old Dan Wesson not a S&W. It doesn't look too bad just a lot of surface rust. You probably could buff it out and reblue it.

Ya I saw wesson when I picked it up and just assumed smith and wesson. After I took the pics I realized it was a Dan Wesson.

I got all the rust and blueing off. The pitting is not horrible but the barrel has a nice frosted look to it. Not sure if I'll be able to get it smooth enough that the blueing will look decent. It was hard to get a decent pic of the pitting but what do you think?

[boris]

you can send it to ol'boris!!!:bigsmile:{no, really!}

[Red Hat]

You need to find some one with a buffing machine to get that out. A few strokes over a buffing wheel and that will disappear. If you have a grinder you can get a cloth wheel and some rouge for it. Take the guard off the grinder and buff away.

[KimberPB]

Originally Posted by boris

you can send it to ol'boris!!!:bigsmile:{no, really!}

LOL nice try but the guns not even mine. Its actually a friend of mine. Other then the rust issue everything else looks good. Barrel appears to be in good shape, chamber locks in with very very little play, and the trigger is smooth and crisp. I may have to take it to the range after I get it all back together and make sure it still fires correctly! :icon_cheesygrin:

[KimberRB]

You need to fine some one that can cut and polish it. That is some one with a good knowledge of buffing. A custom shop that may do chrome plating. After you buff it will look like a new one. If you do not know any one I do.