Cleaning rust off of metal.

[Brian Dick]

I've used a pre 1964 copper penny, (US or CDN), and a custom sharpened brass scraper. Be careful as bits of steel rust will embed and scratch if you aren't diligent about keeping it clean. I like Hoppes No.9 and 0000 steel wool for clean up. Works like a champ. I carefully did the tops of a set of barrels from a lovely little pre-war Fox Sterlingworth double a few weeks ago that had been in a rack near the Atlantic ocean in Florida with no care for many years. The blueing was damaged but I was surprised that there was really no deep pitting once cleaned up using this method.