Advice on stopping rust.

D

Deja vu

New member
As of this last year I have recently been carrying my CCW gun in my front pocket rather than my ankle holster cause its easier to get to.

My CCW is a S&W 640 in stainless steal. Until recently rust has never been an issue but yesterday I removed the crimson trace grips because I needed to change the batteries and saw a small amount of rust on the frame under the grips. :mad:

First: I was wondering if its safe to use steal wool to remove the rust.

Second: I was wondering what I can do to stop this from happening again. I am sure it is because of sweat. Would getting a pocket holster help?

Third: is there any kind of refinishing job that I can have done? Price is not real important because this gun has sentimental value to me.
 
1) It's OK to use steel wool to remove the rust....like 00 grade.

2) I think a holster can help. Use a light coating of oil. There are so many good products it's hard to advise. Try CLP. Then check it often, you should be OK. Or just a light gun oil.

3) You normally don't do a re-finish on stainless. Stainless is not a finish it's the same all the way through. It can be polished to about any level you want, including very bright...if that's what you want. But it won't change the rust issues.
 
I don't really want to change the finish, I was just under the impression some kind of refinish would make it more rust resistant. If that is not the case ill count my self lucky that I don't have to worry about it.
 
I thought I was good about keeping it oiled, I guess I need to do better. I do oil it after every shooting session but I never thought to look under the grips :confused:

fortunately it seems to be surface rust and a very small amount at that. I am glad I caught it before it was a big problem.
 
There is no finish to make it more rust resistant, at least to my knowledge.

As you found out. Stainless steel can rust. Just take care and you should be OK.

Added: I stand corrected. I guess there are some moly coatings (fairly expensive) that can coat stainless firearms. Personally, I would not fool with them. Just keep you pistol oiled and you will be OK.
 
Firearm stainless steel is far from rust free by virtue of the hardness required. Treat it as just rust resistant and maintain with light oil only.
Unfortunately it is not unusual for composite grips to let moisture to the frame by capillary action through the joints where the trusted old wooden grips retained enough oil to seal the joints. I guess it just means a little added maintenance for the extra accuracy
 
looks like I will be buying me some eezox.

I have been using REM oil and I think it works fine in the places I reapply it but I have never touched the area under the grips.
 
Instead of steel wool (which can embed carbon steel and promote corrosion) I suggest using bronze wool or a copper chore boy and oil to remove the rust spots.

Bronze wool can be ordered from your friendly neighborhood Ace Hardware store.

As has been mentioned, oil or wax the area under the grip to inhibit future corrosion.
 
Don't use steel wool !! You can get STAINLESS STEEL wool or use the others mentioned. Apply wax before installing grips.
 
I use Sili-Kroil on blued firearms, carbon steel knives, and such to prevent rust. It seems to work pretty well.

I've never had much trouble with rust on firearms here in Arizona. Most of the time it's fairly dry. Even so, for some reason the bare carbon steel used for a good knife blade seems to rust pretty easily.

I spray a bit of Sili-Kroil on the knives after using/handling/sharpening, and then wipe it off. It's said to leave a very fine film of silicone on the surface to prevent rust, and from what I've experienced it does a pretty decent job of it.

I also have an old Winchester 72 that I'm in the process of refinishing. I bought it cheap because it had some serious pitting. After using a draw file to remove the pitting. then polishing out the file marks on the barrel, the steel is "in the white" to the point that it looks like bright stainless. I sprayed it with Sili-Kroil about 6 months ago, before the monsoon weather started, and it's still rust free now that the monsoons are over.

It's pretty good stuff.

Daryl
 
I bought a stainless Speed Six a few years back that had some rust on it.

The best way to remove rust is with a green scotch brite pad. It is plastic and will work as well a steel wool without embedding fibers. I used to do a lot of antique tool renovation and it is the only way to go.

For oil, I use Boeshield. Brownells did a bunch of rust testing and demonstrated it is one of the best. It starts out like an oil but dries with a waxy film. Under grips, you'll probably only ever need to make a single application. It doesn't run and even lubricates.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/lid=...nic__Knowing_the_Limits_of_Rust_Preventatives
 
Steel wool fibers don't imbed in stainless. Just clean the residue off after using it.
Click to expand...

You may be right and it may just be an internet myth. However, steel wool can rust very easily and plastic doesn't. And every grocery store carries either the 3M or generic scotch brite pads. I'll stick with the plastic!
 
Get the rust off, then use Eezox. My CCW is exposed to Sweat constantly in the Summer, and it never rusts.
 
I take my grips off and go all over the pistol with Breakfree CLP and let it dry overnight before putting the grips back on. I also use a mop to put CLP in the cylinders and bore. I treat my pocket pistol this way every six months or so and have never had rust, even in this Alabama humidity, heat and body sweat.
 
Steel wool is fine, just make sure you get it all off of the gun. Taking the grips off is so simple and quick there's no reason not to take them off every couple of weeks and re-oil.
 
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