Found rusted gun! Cleaning ideas?

[rayrayvegas]

After a long day of swinging and hardly finding nothing, 4 wheats, a silver rosie and really not sure of the last. Anyways tried one last lot on my head list when just about to give up after nothing but trash i got a LOUD TONE, i thought another pipe or lost sprinkler head, 5 min later im holding this, any thoughts on age and how to clean?

 

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[digging440yrs]

I DONT THINK THERES ANY HELP FOR IT---JUST REMEMBER IT AS A NEAT FIND----

 

[wheatfinder13]

After a long day of swinging and hardly finding nothing, 4 wheats, a silver rosie and really not sure of the last. Anyways tried one last lot on my head list when just about to give up after nothing but trash i got a LOUD TONE, i thought another pipe or lost sprinkler head, 5 min later im holding this, any thoughts on age and how to clean?

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=722225"/>

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=722226"/>

That's not nothing, that sounds like a great hunt. I love finding a silver Rosie
Cool gun

 

[cti4sw]

Soak it in apple cider vinegar for about a week or so, after that you can start chipping away at the rust and it should, for the most part, flake off. I use a Dremel engraver to chip at my rusty ACV'd items. Best part is, I have yet to have problems with scratches. Steel wool following the Dremel should show significant progress too.

 

[lumbercamp]

Electrolysis. Since it'too cold to do that process outside, I've been soaking a revolver and other iron in vinegar for over a month. The revolver is as rusty as when I put it in. The other iron is very slowly coming clean. I can't wait for warmer weather to do electrolysis. I'm not sold on apple cider vinegar.

 

[Jim of PA]

Good finds

 

[cti4sw]

Even though ACV is an acid, it doesn't "eat" the rust like you'd think an acid would. It does loosen it quite a bit, though. After leaving an item in the vinegar for a while, try chipping at the rust with a small pick or, like I do, a Dremel. The rust should flake off with little effort. ACV may not loosen ALL the rust, though, some corrosion is too deeply ingrained for even the ACV - for this I try steel wool and the Dremel, which usually does the trick. For the smaller pockets of corrosion that the steel wool and Dremel can't remove, then I would suggest electrolysis.

Electrolysis is a last resort for people who don't already have a working setup, and a first resort for those who do.

 

[Subterranean]

Hey Ray, great finds, congrats. Your pistol looks like an older 40's-50's starter pistol. I don't see evidence of a "forcing cone," where the barrel extends through the frame and meets up with the front of the (missing) cylinder. Just my two cents, but electrolysis would be my choice of cleaning this cool relic. Sub

 

[PeteWmass]

my favorite acid for cleaning is oxalic acid...you can clean the rust off a beer can...leaving all the paint intact......(which i often do)....try the hardware stores....used as "wood bleach" or "deck wash"......

 

[rayrayvegas]

Thank you everyone for the congratulations and the great ideas. For cleaning it... as soon as I get it cleaned up ill post a new pic to show how it looks thanks again..:-)

 

[BuckleBoy]

my favorite acid for cleaning is oxalic acid...you can clean the rust off a beer can...leaving all the paint intact......(which i often do)....try the hardware stores....used as "wood bleach" or "deck wash"......

Have you used this on old encrusted iron?

 

[Valley Ranger]

I've used both electrolysis and ACV - I prefer ACV. You can leave it in for a couple of weeks and not worry about it. Does as good or better than electrolysis in most cases.

 

[lumbercamp]

I've heard of using oxalic acid to remove stain from oak but not for cleaning iron. I guess if you have a small amount of iron to clean, you could use vinegar. In my case, in the last 2 years, I've hauled home over 1200 lbs of iron. I can't wait a month to clean all the rust off. Over the years I've used a kerosene flame thrower to burn the rust off. Cooking iron red hot in a fire. This turns the iron an ugly red. Sand blasting, which does an excellent job. Now I'm doing electrolysis, which is my preferred method, since I don't have access to a sand blaster anymore.

 

[CJB]

Cool find!

 

[Valley Ranger]

I've heard of using oxalic acid to remove stain from oak but not for cleaning iron. I guess if you have a small amount of iron to clean, you could use vinegar. In my case, in the last 2 years, I've hauled home over 1200 lbs of iron. I can't wait a month to clean all the rust off. Over the years I've used a kerosene flame thrower to burn the rust off. Cooking iron red hot in a fire. This turns the iron an ugly red. Sand blasting, which does an excellent job. Now I'm doing electrolysis, which is my preferred method, since I don't have access to a sand blaster anymore.

True. Very large items are problematic w/vinegar. But iron buckles, axe heads, and similarly sized items are ideal.

 

[NOLA_Ken]

Hey Ray, great finds, congrats. Your pistol looks like an older 40's-50's starter pistol. I don't see evidence of a "forcing cone," where the barrel extends through the frame and meets up with the front of the (missing) cylinder. Just my two cents, but electrolysis would be my choice of cleaning this cool relic. Sub

Yeah I'd agree with starter pistol. Still a cool find, a pistol is a pistol, and they look good in a display.

 

[Tnmountains]

ACV does good but I was getting flash rust almost immediately as the relic dried. Never had that with electrolysis. But as that has some grip left it may be the first course of action. If it is a starter pistol as it looks like I might not do anything. Nice find though and a good discussion.
HH

 

[A2coins]

Looks like a good day to me
Ya never know what the next signal will bring