Molasses rust removal

[maple_leaf_eh]

I bought a Ruger 10/22 rifle in the spring and there was a light surface rust on the barrel. Thinking I'd try the molasses trick, I made a tall tubular stand and lined it with heavy plastic sheeting. In went the barrel and 100% molasses. Six months later I remembered what I was doing and hauled it out. (Admit it folks, sometimes life gets away on us.) The molasses has stained and caked in places. It also pitted the steel and shows highs-and-lows were the plastic wrap folded.

I now have the piece coated with automatic transmission fluid and it will be brushed clean. (Might do that today because there is freezing rain pellets falling outside.)

The molasses also is quite messy to clean up, and stained some clean t-shirts I grabbed as rags. They look like I wiped my backside!