All right guys, have a buddies 1911 that I offered to clean up for him and test fire to see if anything needs replacing. it overall is in very good shape, just a few spots of rust. of course I could just do steel wool and gun oil and clean it up, but I had a question on this

in rust bluing you rust then boil then card correct? So why wouldn't it be a good idea to clean up the spot, degrease, then boil it to convert (ferrous oxide to ferric oxide?)? I would think that simply removing the rust won't necessarily treat the surface whereas boiling it will.

If that is a good course of action, does it need to be distilled water as in rust bluing process?

Thanks all.

Red

I tried it with steam, then boiling tap water, got nowhere. keep us posted wsith your efforts.

quote:

just a few spots of rust. of course I could just do steel wool and gun oil and clean it up, but I had a question on this

Thats the way do do it light on the steel wool

Wouldn't even brother with boiling it.

Thanks guys, I field stripped it last night to look closer. there is just a small bloom at teh base of the left grip.

I think I'll just do light steel wool, unless something changes when I strip it then it's in amazing condition, really a pleasure to get to handle something so old with so much history that's in such great shape.

I'm going to boil the magazine though, will let you know results.

Red