How to clean stains from a stainless steel gun?

A

Andalucia

Inactive
I need some advice if anyone can help.

I just bought a second hand over-under shotgun with a bright steel breach, which I assume is stainless steel. There was some stubborn dirt on it so I decided to use vineger to clean it off. I applied and left it for 15 minutes. Came back to find a black discoloration where I had applied the vineger. No amount of rubbing would get it off. Went to the store and bought a proprietary steel cleaner which got most of it off but left a faint line around the edge of the stain and some discoloration.

Serves me right for believing what I read on the internet!

Anyone know another product which can help? Someone suggested a 10% solution of nitric acid from the drugstore, but it sounds a bit drastic and I am worried about causing even more damage.

Would appreciate any advice from anyone who has had a similar problem.
 
Mother's metal polish.Can find it at most auto parts stores. Flitz is somewhat abrasive so use it sparingly. Mother's will clean and polish in one step.
 
Note

Note that he says he is in Spain. Don't know if they have Flitz polish there. Automotive or motorcycle shops often have the special polishes for chromium or metals. The Germans make some kind of pink polish paste that might go under some different trade names in some countries. The metal might be carbon steel instead of stainless, as some guns are made with bare steel parts with some kind of satin surface finish applied. Or it might be nickel plate, I think acids would turn it dark if applied. I don't think weak acid (vinegar)would attack chrome plating. Would be suprised if vinegar would darken stainless steel also, but I would have to experiment with that. I would go to whatever website recommended vinegar as a gun cleaner and give them flaming criticism! Perhaps it was an anti-gun posting. They might recommend packing your gun in rock salt for storage!:eek:
 
If vinegar darkened it, the metal is not stainless. Try a pencil eraser. Make sure you get all the eraser shavings out of the action.
Bill
 
I've mentioned this before.....

....but nobody has ever responded....well, atleast not on this forum...try Gunzilla....environmentally safe, vegetable based, WILL remove ALL stains from SS and nickle plated weapons, cleans your bore like nobody's business, and is a lubricant....everything you need in a bottle...go to www.topduckproducts.com. The USCG uses it, as well as a whole lot of operators in the sandbox.;)
 
Thanks all

Many thanks everyone for your suggestions. All the products you mentioned are available through the internet though not locally. Will have to order them from the US and wait 2 weeks for them to arrive.

Tom2, I can`t blame any website for suggesting using vineger on my (not so) shiny new shotgun. It was entirely my own dumbass fault for not testing it on a small hidden area first. Will report back on what works.
 
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