This thought just kind of hit. I use a gun cleaning solvent (Hoppes Powder No.9 or something, its a liquid) to remove rust from my knives when I clean them. I was wondering if I could use this on an iron to remove some (hopefully only) surface rust without any ill effects. Just seeing what you guys think. I'll read the bottle when I get home to see if it has a list of metals that it works or doesn't work on. Thanks

 

it's rather difficult to scar the housings, you can use a sanding block with some fine grit sandpaper, scuffing the surface will not harm it just don't get too crazy in single areas which may case the surface to become uneven after enough sanding, in short, sand the face of the iron evenly.


most of the time with surface rust on irons though you will find pitting once you clean it up, pitting especially in the oil seal areas will render the iron useless unless it can be saved through lapping/machining.

 

Take the time and little bit of money and have them sent out. You'll gain that little bit of security in the knowledge that you built your engine correctly.

 

what if your cleaning them, what sand paper grit can you go down to for help correcting minor wear w/o lapping? even if there is no rust?