How to deep clean old handguns?

For years I was using Simple Green in the ultrasonic cleaner for auto and motorcycle parts.
IPA bath for end and easy drying without residue left.
I have a jug I may start with that running it for an hour.
Thanks guys :)

Little ultrasonic bath trick, put the parts inside a container filled with simple green then put that container in the bath itself.

Keeps the simple green concentrated in a smaller area and you can just pour out the hot water in the main compartment after for a easy cleanup.

6SFiz95.jpeg

xTQpZix.jpeg


AUDIO WARNING, Loud buzzing noise from the bath.
 
Uhm... the ultrasonic cleaner two hours with Simple Green, followed with a 20 minutes IPA bath, removed all the blacking from all parts.
Now what to do?
I can re-do with Birchwood Casey I have one bottle for years never tried it? Or eventually find a place that can do ceracoat for peanuts?
 
We got the CFO authorization for temporary transfer until I keep it in my mind. So no need to speculate about "Legal" things.
Ok, well you should mention that before you post something that, for 99.9% of situations is not permitted.
Ah sorry, never came to my mind that anybody would talk in public forum about a firearms, without a legal license.
I have a PAL / RPAL and the CFO approved the transfer
So we good now :) ?
 
Last edited:
Uhm... the ultrasonic cleaner two hours with Simple Green, followed with a 20 minutes IPA bath, removed all the blacking from all parts.
Now what to do?
I can re-do with Birchwood Casey I have one bottle for years never tried it? Or eventually find a place that can do ceracoat for peanuts?
2 hours ?

I run mine for 10 minutes max with 30 minutes off before the next 10 minutes if needed.
 
Uhm... the ultrasonic cleaner two hours with Simple Green, followed with a 20 minutes IPA bath, removed all the blacking from all parts.
Now what to do?
I can re-do with Birchwood Casey I have one bottle for years never tried it? Or eventually find a place that can do ceracoat for peanuts?
I don't know of any places that do cerakoat cheap.
 
I need advise from gurus :)
Started bluing today morning with Birchwood Perma Blue. (barrel cover slider and grip only for now).
And I am lost.
These parts were ultrasonin cleaned followed by IPA bath, old anodising stripped down to bare metal.
Wiped the parts clean with pads soaked with IPA followed by soaked with water.
Youtube shows each pass with acid to be cleaned with water soaked pads in about 1 minute intervals.
I repeated 3x and I am not getting colour black but dark gray only.
What I am missing?
 
You could try heating the metal, I've mainly used oxpho blue and it likes a bit of heat but I also have used it and gotten shades of dark gray.
 
I was in a garage all day. Inside about 16C, but outside 5C raining and the moisture probably in mid to high 90's.
I put the project remaining parts aside for now. I could not find my gun oil bottle so for now just spray all with WD40. This , darkened the two parts a little bit. I know not the best but I have no other oils in my garage other than new motor oils, for case of emergency may be enough.
Looking at amazon, late for today delivery just for anything.
 
Anyone remember that thread where a guy cleaned his Norinco M14 in the dishwasher?

Maybe the OP acquired the handguns prior to Oct 2022 and finally got around to cleaning them.
The Elephant in the room you mean.....
And Simple Green either in an Ultra Sonic or just in the kitchen sink (with a fine strainer protecting the drain) a nylon tooth brush/brass brush and some finger grease to scrub away the offending crud.
Bar Keepers Friend and hot water to clean your sink after will keep the other half happy when everything is said and done ready to prepare the nights dinner.
Rob
 
Last edited:
Tearing guns apart is a tough job. Keeping track of ALL of the small parts as they come off the gun and the sequence of the parts coming off the gun gets more difficult to track as more and more parts come off. Having extra parts when assembling the gun is dangerous to the user. Breaking parts because of not knowing the disassembly proceedure can be costly if not downrite difficult to source the broken part. Sometimes keeping the cleaning disassembly basic is the better way to go unless you have a function issue and having a gun manual on your specifics of your gun is the best way to know how it should come apart.
 
He didn't ask for your permission or opinion about anything but how to clean off rust from bluing and smooth mechanical action. It's none of your business. Nor mine.
He started his post by mentioning that he inherited pistols, which to my knowledge is covered under the handgun freeze. Since this information is completely irrelevant to the thread topic, it was clearly bait for someone to jump on and I took that bait. Shame on me.

I won't do it again.
 
"I have inherited two pistols from a friend." Is a good start to a story if you want the reader to wonder where this is going and start asking internal questions right from the beginning that's for sure..... :)

The fact handguns in Canada have been "frozen" adds even more confusion given the lack of details around when this non familliar inheritance of sorts actually took place.

Still some good info about cleaing regardless of the creative wrting style of the OP.
 
I need advise from gurus :)
Started bluing today morning with Birchwood Perma Blue. (barrel cover slider and grip only for now).
And I am lost.
These parts were ultrasonin cleaned followed by IPA bath, old anodising stripped down to bare metal.
Wiped the parts clean with pads soaked with IPA followed by soaked with water.
Youtube shows each pass with acid to be cleaned with water soaked pads in about 1 minute intervals.
I repeated 3x and I am not getting colour black but dark gray only.
What I am missing?
Heat up parts on a cookie sheet in the oven...or heat gun
 
Little ultrasonic bath trick, put the parts inside a container filled with simple green then put that container in the bath itself.

Keeps the simple green concentrated in a smaller area and you can just pour out the hot water in the main compartment after for a easy cleanup.

6SFiz95.jpeg

xTQpZix.jpeg


AUDIO WARNING, Loud buzzing noise from the bath.
Exactly but glass or tin container is best plastic will absorb some of the action
 
Pulled out from garage one old toaster oven, yes, thanks, warming up the parts to 80ish C helped with bluing.
Barrel/slide and grip is finished. Not pretty but somewhere need to stop.
Bits and pieces for tomorrow.
Not easy to lean over the bench for a third half day, I am going now to rest my back in an armchair - with playing some War Thunder :)
 
Back
Top Bottom