How to deep clean old handguns?

bigHUN

bigHUN

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I have inherited two pistols from a friend. A YU made CZ TT 7.62, and a IZH-35M 22LR pistols.
A lot of surface corrosion on both from sitting in environment for decades. From my initial tests both cycling OKish a bit erratic cocking and hard trigger.
Started taking the TT apart, still a decent amount of gunk from the manufacturer... stopped at the trigger, for now I could not figure how to disconnect the flat spring.
What is a best way to wash clean these parts to bare metal? Submerge in diezel or gasoline or varsol for couple days? And finish cleaning in ultrasonic cleaner?
 
My favorite, always, is mineral spirits (Varsol). and remove rust with Varsol soaked steel wool of the 0000 or 000 variety. If the rust is too heavy to remove with those, 00 will work.
 
Diesel fuel works, but stinks.

Varsol works, stinks only a little less.

Don't use gasoline. It works just fine, but will also explode...so, dumb/bad.

If they were mine, I'd field strip them and place the parts in a varsol bath and leave them sit for several days to a week. Then a brush and further (complete disassembly) tear down, cleaning all surfaces. I would rinse the parts with CLP, reassemble and wipe down any excess. Then I'd take them to the range and get them dirty again. ;)
 
Adding to what cocked and locked said, I also scrub the visible rust with a small brass brush, smaller than a toothbrush. I use WD 40 as my solvent on the brush. If you have decent steady hands you can also use brass brush on your Dremel with parts well secured, or Dremel well secured.
 
Mostly all surface corrosion, so far I have not seen deep rust. Removing the old grease and thick gunk oil is especially from corners worrying me the most.
Heading to HD to get a new can of varsol. I know from past varsol is not highly flammable, maybe I try a small amount in my ultrasonic cleaner (test it outside first on my rear deck), I knew I have some buttons there for different functions never tried, maybe can work.
 
bigHUN said:
Mostly all surface corrosion, so far I have not seen deep rust. Removing the old grease and thick gunk oil is especially from corners worrying me the most.
Heading to HD to get a new can of varsol. I know from past varsol is not highly flammable, maybe I try a small amount in my ultrasonic cleaner (test it outside first on my rear deck), I knew I have some buttons there for different functions never tried, maybe can work.
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If you have an ultrasonic cleaner use distilled water and gun parts cleaning solution like this one https://a.co/d/gqFWzVY

If you using something else like a regular detergent be carefull about the amount of heat and time because it can add more rust
 
bigHUN said:
What is a best way to wash clean these parts to bare metal? Submerge in diezel or gasoline or varsol for couple days? And finish cleaning in ultrasonic cleaner?
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I find brake cleaner helps to remove grease etc prior to ultrasonic cleaning. Varsol, diesel etc will pollute the ultrasonic solution.
 
Nothing like completely stripping them down and soaking in lacquer thinner and cleaning any gunk and grease away, then I would use Hoppes # 9 Powder solvent and 0000 steel wool for removing rust and not affecting any existing blue. Blow everything dry, then spray with G 96 Gun Treatment and very lightly wipe excess.
 
I like the idea of using ziplock bags or other small waterproof containers in ultrasonic cleaners, you can use water in the unit and what ever solvent or solution that is compatible with the container material and keep the ultrasonic cleaner clean while using less solvent in the smaller container.
 
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 :)
 
I bought two 22 rifles off a local guy for 25 bucks each. They were completely covered with rust and had no blueing left to save plus both were saturated with some kind of shmoo. Not cosmoline or gun oil but something like mink oil or beeswax or something weird. It was actually starting to turn rubbery and stank. Actions wouldn’t cycle on either. I removed both from the stocks, looped wire through the actions and whatever loose metal parts I had and soaked them in a steel 5 gallon pail with of bad gas for about a week .Only thing that I tried that worked for those. Because they were so rusty and pitted and unsaveable, once I pulled them out of the gas I dipped them in a 5 gallon pail of evaporust overnight. It took off everything, even the blueing, leaving a clean (heavily pitted) surface for me to spray with flat black duracoat.

I always keep old gas that I drain out of old cars, boats and various Kijiji scores and pour it into my “old gas bucket”. I keep it outside away from my shop and keep the lid on, I don’t let it get on my hands. Most of the gas in the bucket is so old it isn’t flammable anymore. I have dipped a piece of cardboard in it and tried to light it before with no success. I use it to degrease all kinds of things. Currently have 4 sets of wheel bearings from a tandem axle trailer dipped in it to break down the chunky old grease that they were packed with.

You wouldn’t need a 5 gallon pail for a couple handguns just get a gallon jug of cheap mineral spirit solvent from princess auto and a container to put it all in and let it sit for as long as it takes. No scrubbing needed.
 
homer76 said:
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.
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My friend cooks fish in the dishwasher, wrapped in tinfoil with lemon slices and pepper so anything is possible
 
Ungrateful said:
He didn’t say when
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Additionally, RPAL holders can acquire another RPAL holders firearms for the duration of the PAL, intill the expiration date. As a secondary storage address. Suppose original owner goes to travel the world for a few years. Sells the house or whatever it may be. Then another RPAL holder can take those firearms under a secondary storage address and shoot them, clean them, look at them. Just as if they were owned by them. Or perhaps this OP is a firearm business owner. Here too they can acquire these.

As we are all responsible firearms owners let’s not jump to conclusions. All is assumed correctly done.
 
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