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Thread: Cleaning rust from Whitneyville Walker pistol

  1. #1
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    DonMountain's Avatar
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    Cleaning rust from Whitneyville Walker pistol

    I've acquired an old Colt, Whitneyville Walker Italian reproduction that is rather rusty all over and I would like to clean it up to shootable condition again. What would you all recommend for this job? Chemicals? Steel wool? etc?

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    Boolit Grand Master Outpost75's Avatar
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    What I have used to remove active surface rust, but NOT patina is a paste made from Bar Keeper's Friend and ATF, used first with a toothbrush and following with a baby diaper. Does not scratch and leaves only smooth browned finish. Works on bullet molds too!
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    Boolit Grand Master pietro's Avatar
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    Big Frontier 45 cleaner, used with oil, WILL remove rust w/o effecting any remaining finish under the rust.

    Although it may look it, it is NOT steel wool !

    http://www.big45.com/




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    Boolit Master

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    Glass bead blast and reblue.

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    Big 45 and Kroil.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Gewehr-Guy View Post
    Big 45 and Kroil.
    Is this "Big 45" available locally or do I have to order it from somewhere? And where do I buy this "Kroil" material?

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    Kano Kroil - google it and you will find it.
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    Brownells carries Kroil.

  9. #9
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    Submerge in white vinegar as it will remove rust. But it will also remove bluing. Rinse good with water & dry.
    then re blue.

    Fly

  10. #10
    Boolit Grand Master In Remembrance
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    Big Frontier 45 cleaner and a 50:50 mix of ATF and acetone
    Regards
    John

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    A good boil in an old stainless pot with water with a tablespoon of citric acid/lemishine will remove all rust is about 20 minutes.
    It will also remove bluing, which of course is a form of rust.
    I would degrease well first and possibly put a bit of dawn or laundry detergent in the water to also remove caked on grease/oil/dirt.
    toothbrush while boiling will also help remove grease/oil/dirt.

    It will leave the surface with a look of bare steel. it will take the rust out of the puts but of course the pits will remain.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Fly View Post
    Submerge in white vinegar as it will remove rust. But it will also remove bluing. Rinse good with water & dry.
    then re blue.

    Fly
    And if you leave it a week like I did it'll take the chrome off your tools as well! Left pockmarks on my cheap screwdrivers!


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    Boil, buff and oil. Rust is the way rust blue is done, just help it along. No need to add anything to the water. Boil it for around 25 minutes.
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    Boolit Grand Master pietro's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by DonMountain View Post
    Is this "Big 45" available locally or do I have to order it from somewhere? And where do I buy this "Kroil" material?
    I bought the Big 45 cleaner pads directly from the maker's website for $6 (shipped) - see the link I posted above.

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  15. #15
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    I use 0000 steel wool and oil, most any oil will work. Let the oil stand on the parts a while to soak into the rust. Won't hurt any remaining bluing.
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  16. #16
    Boolit Grand Master pietro's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mazo kid View Post
    I use 0000 steel wool and oil, most any oil will work. Let the oil stand on the parts a while to soak into the rust. Won't hurt any remaining bluing.

    In over 50 years, I've never run across a gun, which someone had removed the rust from with steel wool (oiled or not), that didn't have fine scratches in the original finish visible.


    .
    Now I lay me down to sleep
    A gun beside me is what I keep
    If I awake, and you're inside
    The coroner's van is your next ride

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BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
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GC Gas Check