Lead deposits on stainless

bearcatter · 06-23-2016, 11:12 AM

Thought I'd share something you may already know.

I like a gun to be spotless when I'm done cleaning, and stainless steel gives a unique problem. When cleaning lead deposits, like around the forcing cone or cylinder face of a revolver, it's hard to be sure it's gone at first.

Whether you use a brass brush, scraper, or whatever; you're giving lead a fresh surface, nice and shiny silver. Blends into the stainless. A day or so later, the lead has re-oxidized, and you see dark spots on what you thought was clean. So, I always give a "clean" stainless gun a second look a few days after cleaning.

tx gun runner · 06-23-2016, 12:50 PM

This not the cloth I was looking for you , but it works ok .. It made for stainless guns to wipe and remove the black from the front of cylinder or lead in the bore . . DON"T USE IT ON A BLUED GUN , IT WILL REMOVE THE BLUING IN 5 SEC .

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/647...cleaning-cloth

Terry_P · 06-23-2016, 08:11 PM

On my stainless revolvers I use mothers mag on the cylinder faces and lead in the bore I use JB Bore paste.

bearcatter · 06-24-2016, 06:56 AM

I use the lead remover cloths, too. Birchwood-Casey and Hoppe's cloths seem to be the same. You can wrap an edge around an old gift card, or a piece of one. Makes it easier on flat surfaces, or in a crease like around a cylinder hub. I keep a stack of old gift cards in my gear.

They are lightly abrasive, so you are removing metal. Nice that after a few uses the surface has enough of a polish that lead doesn't stick as well anymore. I don't think you have to worry about it widening a cylinder gap enough to matter, maybe a few hundred-thousandths over time.

06-23-2016, 11:12 AM	#1
bearcatter Senior Member Joined: Aug 2015 From: Virginia Posts: 4,009	Lead deposits on stainless Thought I'd share something you may already know. I like a gun to be spotless when I'm done cleaning, and stainless steel gives a unique problem. When cleaning lead deposits, like around the forcing cone or cylinder face of a revolver, it's hard to be sure it's gone at first. Whether you use a brass brush, scraper, or whatever; you're giving lead a fresh surface, nice and shiny silver. Blends into the stainless. A day or so later, the lead has re-oxidized, and you see dark spots on what you thought was clean. So, I always give a "clean" stainless gun a second look a few days after cleaning. Last edited by bearcatter; 06-23-2016 at 11:15 AM.

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06-23-2016, 12:50 PM	#2
tx gun runner Senior Member Joined: Jun 2008 From: Ft Hood , Tx area Posts: 11,626	This not the cloth I was looking for you , but it works ok .. It made for stainless guns to wipe and remove the black from the front of cylinder or lead in the bore . . DON"T USE IT ON A BLUED GUN , IT WILL REMOVE THE BLUING IN 5 SEC . http://www.midwayusa.com/product/647...cleaning-cloth

06-23-2016, 08:11 PM	#3
Terry_P Super Moderator Joined: Apr 2008 From: Where it's warm Posts: 10,609	On my stainless revolvers I use mothers mag on the cylinder faces and lead in the bore I use JB Bore paste.

06-24-2016, 06:56 AM	#4
bearcatter Senior Member Joined: Aug 2015 From: Virginia Posts: 4,009	I use the lead remover cloths, too. Birchwood-Casey and Hoppe's cloths seem to be the same. You can wrap an edge around an old gift card, or a piece of one. Makes it easier on flat surfaces, or in a crease like around a cylinder hub. I keep a stack of old gift cards in my gear. They are lightly abrasive, so you are removing metal. Nice that after a few uses the surface has enough of a polish that lead doesn't stick as well anymore. I don't think you have to worry about it widening a cylinder gap enough to matter, maybe a few hundred-thousandths over time.