Best way to safely remove rust

[Paintermom]

Recently while going through and cleaning out some of the junk my dad had collected over the years that was stored outside, I accidentally stumbled over a 54 Cal muzzle loader literally hidden underneath some scrap junk.

I KNOW without a doubt that the gun didn’t belong to my dad, and was heartbroken to realize it appears to be several years old. I honestly don’t know how long that gun lay hidden on the ground while it’s pathetic excuse for a light weight nylon carry case disintegrated, but I’m hoping that someone can advise me on how to remove the horrible case of rust on the outside and inside of the barrel. I’m well aware that it’s probably not going to ever be useable for hunting again, but I would really like to try and clean it up some and maybe mount it in some type of locked display case, as a tribute to my late dad who so dearly enjoyed hunting and especially primitive weapon season when he could use his muzzle loader.

I have attached a few photos of the gun in order to show the condition it was found in, and I’m just hoping that I can do something to try and bring this gun back to something like what it should look like.

 

[Ivery Keys]

Wow, and a lefty at that! Good luck on your project, I look forward to seeing the end results!

 

[Dwight Rutherford]

EvapoRust is the best and safest product to use for this. It will only eliminate rust and bluing but does not need to be neutralized.

 

[William Lincoln]

There are a lot of advisors available to answer this one first hand. Many rust remover solutions
out there-- I use acid but will not recommend it here due to possible accidents. You can
always fall back on hard work. Buy some 4 ought steel wool and 30W motor oil --or Trans
fluid and get to rubbing. Coat with oil and go to it. Re-evaluate after the first clean up.
That is a several days project-minimum.

 

[Steve Martin]

Paper towels or clean rags soaked in white vinegar, wrapped around any metal that's rusted, allow to soak for a few minutes then brush everything with bronze, NOT steel brushes. Rinse everything completely and repeat as needed. Will remove bluing almost instantly and works on rust similar to EvapoRust but is much cheaper. Plug nipple, pour down barrel and allow to sit for several minutes use a bronze bore brush that is one caliber size TOO SMALL so it doesn't get jammed in the bore and basically do just like the exterior metal. You will be amazed how much of that rust will come off.

 

[labrat]

Naval Jelly Rust Dissolver has always done the job for me. Inexpensive and easy to get at local hardware stores. Easy application and fast acting. Apply with paint brush, let set for 10 minutes, rinse with water & repeat as needed. Wear gloves & use in ventilated area..........Labrat

 

[Ajgall]

Evapo-Rust or plain vinegar, you will also need some fine steel wool and like Steve Martin said above a bore brush at least a size smaller than the caliber.

The first thing to do is check it’s unloaded many muzzleloaders have been put away loaded over the years and no matter how bad it looks on the outside a powder charge could still be live.

 

[necchi]

At this point, it looks like your try to dissimulate a reasonable restoration,,
As far gone as that thing is it will require several steps. There will be no grand "one step" solution to this.
It'll be a little involved, but not UN-daunting.
*Basic washing and scale removal.
*Chemical use with hydration and lubrication that will allow dis-assembly.
*Then more hand work and careful "electrolysis" with individual pieces, before re-assembly.

Basically, if you sit back careful like, an take a little time, you can end-up with a nice piece of your fathers history that you salvaged..

Thank's for asking here,, you'll get a lot of tips. Just try to think it through not as a one time step,, but a process.

 

[Whughett]

I have a civil war era Remington that came to me rusted solid. Appeared to have been buried for some time. Long soaks completely submerged in Evaporust not only removed the rust but allowed me to completely disassemble the piece. It’s will never fire again but ultimately I’ll get it re-blued and be able to display with my other functioning revolvers.
Photos, as it came out of the evaporust and disassembled for further restoration.
If you go with Evaporust a length of capped PVC pipe would serve as a soak tank.

 

[bubba.50]

Sorry to rain on your parade but, the only decent thing to do for that gun is give it a Christian burial.

 

[FishDFly]

Sniff, sniff.

 

[bluemule66]

looks like a left hand TC New Englander. I would take it apart as much as possible without snapping any screws and soak it in evapo rust for a day. see what it looks like at that point.

 

[andy52]

Dang, I hate to say it, but I think bubba might be right...

 

[Pork Chop]

Evaporust is a miracle. I thought that it was snake oil, but I am sold on it! That gun looks like it may be functional again - if the important parts aren't dangerously damaged, I don't see any reason that you can't make it a shooter.

 

[SDSmlf]

They don’t make TC New Englanders any more, and they never made that many left handed ones. If the stock isn’t broken or cracked, you could possibly make this a functioning gun again.

First off, make sure there is not a charge in the bore. Then gently separate the metal from wood.

As others have suggested, then time for a general cleaning. I like EvapoRust for cleaning up the rusted steel. For the stock, I would use something like KrudKutter. It will remove all the nasty stuff and most if not all of any of the original finish.

Next, I would let it dry for a couple of days, then reassemble everything, using new screws if necessary, then step back and see what I had. Any major components missing or damaged? Does the lock work (EvapoRust will remove the surface rust and finish, but lock disassembly and TLC maintenance will be required)?

Now it will be decision time. Can the barrel be saved with a rebore to a larger caliber or a relining to keep the current caliber? A $150 to $200+ investment. If the lock doesn’t have any life left in it, a replacement will likely be about $150. Still have to clean up exterior metal surfaces for finishing, maybe rust bluing if you plan on shooting the gun, possibly cold blue if a wall hanger. Then there is the stock to contend with…..

It’s up to you if it’s worth the time, money and effort. In memory of your dad, possibly. To fix up to sell, @bubba.50 has a good idea. Or if you have a garden, tomato stakes are handy to have around.

Good luck.

 

[bubba.50]

The stock is actually rotting away, some of that pitting likely goes halfway to the bore, speaking of which I shudder to think what it and the internals of the lock look like. All things considered, I'm'a stick with my original assessment.......unless you wanta keep it til mater planting time again.

 

[N.Y. Yankee]

Honestly, I'd just take a good wire brush to it and a can of satin black spray paint. 24 hours and you can hang it on the wall somewhere. Put your time into a project that is worthy of it.

 

[BadDaditood]

Sorry to rain on your parade but, the only decent thing to do for that gun is give it a Christian burial.

Quarter pound of powder and a Viking funeral !!!

 

[hunter thompson]

Sorry to rain on your parade but, the only decent thing to do for that gun is give it a Christian burial.

YOU GOT IT.its junk..

 

[hunter thompson]

The time that you would have in it would be a 80 hours.That guns not hiring