Cleaning YHM 22 Stinger SS baffles

[zerobarrier]

Hello,

I just took the stinger apart after about 500rds and man is is dirty and very hard to clean. Would it be ok if I let the baffles soak in hoppes #9 for 30min the put them in my tumbler with Lyman tufnut and corncob green mixture? I do not want to use "the dip" bc I don't want to deal with the lead acetate byproduct.

Thanks

 

[Superpsy]

Your process sounds fine to me. Some people tumble with brass pins I believe. As long as the baffles are SS it shouldn't hurt it any.

 

[Gik-tal]

I have K Baffles on my AAC 22 suppressor and have found that if I soak them over night in some Simple green cleaner, then take them out and soak for a couple of hours in Kano Kroil Penetrating Oil for a couple of hours, that brushing with a nylon brush will usually remove about everything I need. Once in a while I use a Bronze brush on the harder spots. then wash everything in Acetone, to remove any oil or water that might be left and reassemble. Just remember you don't need to spotless, just remove the chunky stuff.

 

[wally]

then wash everything in Acetone, to remove any oil or water that might be left and reassemble

I don't have an AAC, but most suppressor manufacturer's (I have GemTech, Silerenco, Thompshon Machine, and SWR cans) seem to recommend a layer of "good gun oil" on the parts for reassembly. The carbon made by the oil seems to help prevent the hot "coke" from the partially powder and bits of lead from sticking so completely to things.

Just remember you don't need to spotless, just remove the chunky stuff

For sure!

soak for a couple of hours in Kano Kroil Penetrating Oil for a couple of hours

Kroil is great stuff, but I've been using Marvel Mystery Oil to soak, ~$20/gal at the auto parts store, much cheaper than Kroil.

 

[zerobarrier]

I just bought some mineral spirits(what YHM recommends) to soak overnight. I was thinking about using a mixture of hoppes #9 and mineral spirits, more mineral spirits then hoppes.

 

[wally]

to soak overnight I was thinking about using a mixture of hoppes #9

Be careful with soaking things in Hoppes #9 its got ammonia in it which is pretty corrosive to a lot of metals and finishes. Makes for great quick cleaning, but I'd be careful with soaking things in it.

 

[zerobarrier]

Ok thanks wally, I think I may just use the mineral spirits to soak then after clean with a cloth that has hopes on it.

 

[Gtscotty]

I don't like having Lead Acetate around either, so after I dip my suppresssor, I pour a saturated solution of Epsom Salts (Magnesium Sulfate) into my dip solution. The lead precipitates out as Lead Sulfate, which is not as easily absorbed as Lead Acetate. Then I evaporate the precipitate to dryness and add it to a jar, to be dropped off at the hazardous waste facility. Just another option... the dip is soooo easy.

 

[zerobarrier]

Then I evaporate the precipitate to dryness and add it to a jar

How do you evaporate it? Do you use a heat source or just let air dry?

 

[Gtscotty]

I just let it air dry in the garage in a marked jar with holes poked in the lid.

 

[wally]

I don't like having Lead Acetate around either, so after I dip my suppresssor, I pour a saturated solution of Epsom Salts (Magnesium Sulfate) into my dip solution. The lead precipitates out as Lead Sulfate

I've never heard of using Epsom salts, sources I've found recommend precipitating with sulfuric acid, which still leaves the question of disposing of the liquor after removing the precipitate, so I've never tried "the dip".

I've had no trouble recovering metallic lead from my .22lr suppressor with a penetrating oil soak, soapy water ultrasonic cleaning and a wire brush and dental pick. This seems safest in terms of toxic materials.