Removing rust from Bushnell scope

Todd M

Craftsman of metals...always learning.
I was digging through a friends recently purchased shop buildings that he is cleaning out and one of the things I dug out was a brand new Bushnell 2.5-7 scope. New, no ring marks, clear, but 40-50% covered in rust. Not just light stuff but some flaky rust especially on the rear “bell”. I was going to take a old knife and gently scrape it, steel wool the whole thing and oil it. Any other suggestions for a better solution?
I don’t care about looks, just function.
 

Ian

Notorious member
You can strip it to the white with Naval Jelly and not risk getting liquid inside like with Evaporust or ruining the guts of it like boiling or steaming and carding.
 

JustJim

Well-Known Member
I recently picked up an old Weaver K4 that has some rust. I'm going to scrape off any flaky stuff with a piece of copper, then scrub the rusted spots with 4/0 steel wool lubed with Johnson's paste wax. Whatever you use, remember to keep chemicals off the glass and out of the turrets. Teflon tape works, just don't snug them down too tightly.
 

Todd M

Craftsman of metals...always learning.
How old is that scope? I don't ever remember seeing a blue steel Bushnell.
I don’t know. The packaging was deteriorated to the point that it fell apart when I picked it up. But I did see the name Bushnell.
 

Todd M

Craftsman of metals...always learning.
You can strip it to the white with Naval Jelly and not risk getting liquid inside like with Evaporust or ruining the guts of it like boiling or steaming and carding.
And then re-blue it?
 

Ian

Notorious member
Cold blue it or paint it with Krylon matte black or Rust Oleum Painter's Touch satin black. Only those two will go on thin enough to not cause scope ring problems. Normal Rust Oleum is thick and clotty.
 

Todd M

Craftsman of metals...always learning.
I recently picked up an old Weaver K4 that has some rust. I'm going to scrape off any flaky stuff with a piece of copper, then scrub the rusted spots with 4/0 steel wool lubed with Johnson's paste wax. Whatever you use, remember to keep chemicals off the glass and out of the turrets. Teflon tape works, just don't snug them down too tightly.
What does the paste wax with steel wool do? Just a good polish?
 

JustJim

Well-Known Member
The wax is just a controllable means of lubricating the steel wool. It won't flow, so it can't get into any seals or cement on the glass. It also keeps the cleaned surface from re-rusting, and I think it is a bit easier on the remaining finish. If you're going to re-blue or paint the scope, it might be better remove all oil from the steel wool (a quick dip in acetone, or a few blasts of carb cleaner, will do this) before scrubbing off the rust.
 

Todd M

Craftsman of metals...always learning.
Had to go to the Oreillys to get a brake line for my moms car, so I got a bottle of their brand of rust remover. Don’t know when I’ll get a chance to work on it, as Sunday’s are family days.
 

L Ross

Well-Known Member
I can't get past the idea of a steel Tasco. My guess is it is a Weaver that got put in a Tasco box. There's situation like that right in my den. A Weaver in a box that was for a Cabela's Wind River Chinese .22 scope. I put it in there to keep the dust off and protect it in the event I knock it off the shelf digging for something else. Let us know what you find under the rust.