severe rust removal

[Willoughby]

I was ask to see if 4 firearms were salvageable after being stored for 3 years
and some time in that 3 year period they were under water
2 glock pistols , a M1a 308, and a HK 45acp carbine
the latter is the only one, that the action opens
the other 3 are rusted shut
any rust removal, formulas, tips etc. appreciated
right now -I have them soaking in PB blaster

 

[akajun]

soak in evapo rust, or electrolyisis, then bead blast and park, that is the best they will ever be.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

An expensive prepper mistake it seems. Kroil will eat rust as good as anything ive seen.

 

[Ggmac]

An old usually forgotten , VINEGAR . It's cheap and rust will just fall off in about 24 hrs . It will also remove all blue . And nickel . I use white cheap by the gallon stuff . Living in south Florida many a weapons were turned in for cleaning that were rusted shut . 80+ humidity , hot cars cold AC houses and hard cases that hold condensation .

 

[Egg]

If your going to blast it, you might want to try it with a media that is less aggressive than stainless shot, like walnut or baking soda first. Hope you can recover them!!!

Egg

 

[Ggmac]

Willoughby I sent a PM .if you decide to try a small piece or screws , clean off the oil , kerosene etc .
Gary

 

[Willoughby]

I tried the white vinegar- because I didn't have any evap o rust in the cabinet
it worked great on the glock slides - took em down to metal
didn't work as well on the other parts or rifles
thanks a lot for the advise

 

[Ggmac]

Glad it worked on some . I've been soaking some WW2 mauser parts for a few days , bolts come out like a sandblasted finish , extractors come out looking like black oxide.
Gary
PS try soaking longer and change the vinegar every couple of days .

 

[RW]

You can take a container and mix Arm and Hammer soap and water then submerse the piece in one side and on the other place a piece of metal, Then take a 12 volt battery charger and attach the positive lead to the piece of metal and the negative to the piece you are derusting, the pieces cannot touch. If you google restoring cast iron cookware it explains it very well! It will remove any rust and blueing! Hope this help, RW

 

[alintx]

Submerging in atf for awhile works too

 

[Jose_Luis_G]

Read carefully ítem #3 of this post. It may help you.
http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3883566.msg36634989#msg36634989

 

[Willoughby]

thanks for all the great tips
vinegar works great -as does baking soda ,water and a battery charger method
and Im sure some of the other methods I didn't try would work also
the rust is gone, but the craters it left behind tell the story
here's the final run down
M1a is a total loss, receiver ,op rod and barrel pitted in all the wrong places
only the plastic frames salvaged on the 2 Glocks
The HK, mostly plastic was remarkable rust free , it just needs a barrel replacement
now all I have to do is contact the owner
the once pristine (3 years ago) M1a in this condition saddens me
its a rifle I've always wanted but could never afford
thanks again guys for all the great replies