old barrel restauration

[danyboy]

Decided to restore an old .22cal rifle with rust on outside of barrel, bore looks very good. Any suggestion as to how I could bring that steel to almost new condition ?
Danyboy

 

[brownie]

restoring rusty barrel

If you spray WD-40 on the barrel and use the finest steel wool on it, it will clean the rust off and not hurt the bluing as long as the rust has not allready damaged the bluing.

 

[sunray]

How much rust? Any pitting? Oil and 0000 steel wool will remove surface rust, but won't do anything for pitting. Nor will it come back to 'almost new', but it'll be close.
A fine brass wire wheel in a bench grinder and a gentle touch will be quicker. Eye protection is required.

 

[jiminthecorner]

Finish off with crocus cloth. JITC

 

[carew]

I use SOS pads with a really heavy oil. It takes a long time but you can do a really nice job.

 

[guntech]

Decided to restore an old .22cal rifle with rust on outside of barrel, bore looks very good. Any suggestion as to how I could bring that steel to almost new condition ?
Danyboy

Rust means the steel is pitted and when the rust is removed from the pit, there is no bluing... just a pit.

...so the pits need removing too... metal should be removed equally everywhere on the outside of the barrel.... then it should be re blued using a hot blue process.

The cheapest way I am sure would be to take it to a gunsmith.

 

[danyboy]

Thanks to everyone for input, really appreciate the help.
Danyboy