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How to Clean Rust on a Handgun

With gun regulations making it more and more difficult to obtain new guns, restoring an old gun is a viable solution. Rust can ravage a handgun. Fortunately, removing rust only takes a few basic household items.

Things You'll Need

Gun
Towel
Gun oil
Fine steel wool
Soft cloth

Instructions

- 1
  Unload your hand gun. Cover the area where you will be working with an old towel. Place the gun on the towel.
- 2
  Put a moderate amount of gun oil on your extra-fine steel wool. Don't soak the steel wool, but saturate a spot about the size of a nickel.
- 3
  Rub the rusted area of your hand gun very lightly with the steel wool. If you rub too hard, the steel wool will damage the finish of the steel.
- 4
  Add oil as needed when the area seems to be drying out.
- 5
  Put a moderate amount of oil on a soft cloth. Again, don't soak the cloth. Saturate an area about the size of a quarter.
- 6
  Wipe the rusted area with the cloth to check your progress.
- 7
  Continue rubbing with the oil and steel wool until all the rust is removed.
- 8
  Wipe down the entire hand gun with oil once all the rust is removed.
- 9
  Oil regularly to prevent the rust from returning.

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