Johngoboom

I have to say...this is the coolest gun cleaning "thing?" I have ever done...I only wish it was my original idea.

Anyway...I had heard there was a product on the market to get lead and copper out of a barrel using an electrolyte solution and an anode placed into the barrel...Negative current is run through the anode, and positive into the frame of the gun...When an electrolyte solution is present, the lead and copper fouling dissolve, and attach to the anode in the form of plating.

That got me thinking, and I started looking for plans on the net of how to do it yourself...So here's what I did.

I took a piece of 1/8" steel rod, and cut it a couple inches longer than the length of the barrel.

I bought a tapered rubber stopper and drilled an 1/8" hole part way through the center it. Be careful not to drill all the way through as this is what is holding the liquid in the gun barrel.

In this case, I was trying it out on my .44 Mag Redhawk that head some leading from the last range session where I went through at least 150 rounds. I pushed the stopper up into the forcing cone. Then put the rod into the muzzle of the barrel and fish around until you find the 1/8" hole you drilled into the stopper. Seat the rod into the hole holding the stopper in place with your other hand.

I then took an 1/8" o-ring and slid it over the other end of the rod until it was just beneath the crown of the muzzle. This keeps the rod off the barrel an insulates it, that way you're not shorting the system out. You could also just wrap a couple loops of electricians tape around it so that it does contact the side, but the o-ring keeps it centered a little better.

I placed the gun into a padded vice, and clamped it with the muzzle pointing straight up.

I then took a solution of one part Ammonia to 2 parts water and filled the barrel. I left the rod in place. I used a big plastic syringe, but a turkey baster would work fine too...

Leave some air space at the stop and wrap some paper towels around the end of the barrel.

Here's the fun part...You can use a a couple of D-size batteries, or a lantern battery, or basically what every you want. But the more current you have the faster that the lead and copper will "plate" the 1/8" rod (use common sense here). I used an automotive battery charger, and just hooked the leads up with the negative on the rod, and the positive clamped on the front sight.

When I plugged in the charge (which I set on a 6 volt setting) the solution started to fizz...you could see a slug of scum come forming on the top within a couple of minutes. I shut the charger off, pulled the rod out, and could not believe it. The entire length was coated in a sludgy mixture of lead. I wiped it onto a rag, and scoured it with some steel wool so it would be clean for future use.

I dumped the contentes of the barrel which were pretty nasty looking, and started running patches through it that were saturated with some Hoppes, with in a few they were coming out completely clean. The fizz also breaks up all the powder fouling.

And when I looked into the barrel, I could not believe my eyes...That is the cleanest shiniest bore on a stainless handgun I have ever seen. This freaking works!!!!!!! You can do it for any gun, pistol or long gun, all you need is the appropriate rubber stopper for the breach end.

So Materials...

4' chunk of 1/8" steel rod...$3.25
One rubber stopper...$0.28
One 1/8" ID O-ring...$0.49

Ammonia...Already had in the laundry room
Battery Charger

deputy125

i heard of kits to use electricity to remove copper fouling...........

i did not think it would work on lead.......uless the lead was stuck to the copper?

Johngoboom

I think it works for both Deputy...I plan on trying this on one of my milsurp guns and seeing what happens with the copper...but it did a great job on the lead.

gunman42782

Outers makes a kit and they have two solutions, cop out and foul out, to remove either lead or copper. It works, but it is somewhat of a PITA. I had one when they first came out with them, and sold it. I like cleaning guns myself, and this thing took all the fun out of it!

Bountyhunter

You do a lot of work to make things simple. I wouldn't have thought of it. Cleaning the barrel I mean.

chance

That is pretty slick John and I have just the candidate to try it out on. Have a 4 5/8 NM Super Blackhawk that leads up in the mere presence of lead bullets and I have never been able to get it completely clean.

This just may be the answer. Thanks Kid.

kim

Chance, when you get it clean, find some Flitz and using a jag and a patch, polish the bore. Should solve the problem.

John, you really are just a frustrated mad scientist.


Molon Labe

Kim

Johngoboom

After reading further on this one, if you are going to use it in a blued gun, dump some white vinegar in your solution to act as a buffer. Like 1:1:1 water, Ammonia, Vinegar. I guess it only matter on some very rare types of bluing that ammonia can effect, but why take the chance.

For stainless though, it worked awesome. I tried it on that old Mosin Nagant that I bought, and it came out really nice on that one too (after I got the cosmoline out of it).

Johngoboom

After reading further on this one, if you are going to use it in a blued gun, dump some white vinegar in your solution to act as a buffer. Like 1:1:1 water, Ammonia, Vinegar. I guess it only matter on some very rare types of bluing that ammonia can effect, but why take the chance.

For stainless though, it worked awesome. I tried it on that old Mosin Nagant that I bought, and it came out really nice on that one too (after I got the cosmoline out of it).

Kim...that very well could be.

JOHNNY WACKO

All you had to was shoot it before cleaning and burn it out..


Have you tried 12 volt,the only 6 v i have is a big jumper one..