shotgun clean-up

[tttkl5]

I just inherited 2 pump action shotguns that were my grandfathers that I would like to fix up. Here's my problem= They have alot of rust. How do I clean these up and reblue them? At what point are they not worth trying to clean up?
Would like to pass these shotguns on to my kids.

Thanks in advance

PS - would this thread be better suited in the gunsmithing thread?

 

[tiriaq]

There are various degrees of rust. Hard to be specific sight unseen. You could try oil and fine steel wool, or oil and a brass scraper. Sometimes rust is very superficial, and there is still a lot of finish underneath that can be salvaged. If it is hard, scabbed rust that has eaten into the steel, a wirewheel used carefully, chemicals, or grit blasting might be options. Keep in mind that once rust is removed, and if refinishing is the only option, there is a lot of surface preparation needed before rebluing. Easiest way to refinished a badly rusted gun is to blast, spray and bake. A good finish that hides a bad surface.

 

[Sharptail]

For surface rust: Try and lay your hands on some brass wool, if you cannot get it then 0000 steel wool will do. Soak wool in oil and scrub away. If the rust is deep enough to cause pitting you are probably stuck with it. Use Oxpho blue or Blue Wonder to re-blue. I like blue wonder, it is a different process than Oxpho.

Sharptail

 

[phronq]

Blue Wonder makes a solvent that'll take off surface rust pretty easily, along with a bit of brass wool. It's also pretty good for getting junk out of a dirty bore, too.