Got RUST? It's easy to remove, here's how.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

If the rust is "light" (surface), another trick is to use fine steel wool and Kerosene.

Blueing is essentially a ceramic coating and is hard, but VERY thin.

Steel wool is not as hard as blued steel but will slowly lift the "pale" brown surface rust and often leave a "darkish" area behind.

DO NOT USE "Scotchbrites" or similar. Yes, these will remove the rust in a grand fashion, but, because the little green plastic fibres also contain embedded Silicon Carbide particles, they will also remove blueing like magic.

Commercial "rust converters" from the hardware store are also murder on blued surfaces; though they are actually handy for stripping a complete gun with a bad blue job.

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[Patrick Chadwick]

Agreed, it depends on the value of the part you're treating.

BTW

Commercial "rust converters" from the hardware store are also murder on blued surfaces

I think these are typically based on phosphoric acid. I once dunked a slightly rusted old die in a cup of that stuff, and forgot it for weeks. When I finally took it out of the "rust remover" it looked as if it had been parkerized, having developed a matt grey surface. Rust gone - polished surfaces gone as well.