So I have a dirty .44. It's a 629. Stainless steel.
I've heard guy claim they threw their gun in the dishwasher for a cycle to clean it.
Good idea or no?
I know 'Stainless' doesn't mean Stainproof. Or Rustproof, which is what we really care about.
And the springs and the barrel liner might just be a little bit closer to carbon steel, and thus more rustable than the rest of it.
And I KNOW it's a good idea to take the grips off before hand. They'll trap more water in the works at a minimum, ruin wood grips also.
Speaking of water in the works, there is a lot of nooks and crannies inside your typical revolver that you can't exacly get to easily. And those parts are a complete mystery to me. Hate for water to be trapped there for a time, next to spring steel or carbon steel components.
AND there is the whole worry about what you contaminate in the dishwasher that might get on dishes you eat off of. The primer has a lead compound in it. That can't be good unless it all washes away in one cycle.
Ok, seriously... Can it be done? Assume the procedure involves taking the firearm out at the end of the cycle, prompley, and than sprayed down with some oil. Even soak it in a vat of kerosene to get the water out. Would the gun be clean, rust free, and ready to go?
4 comments:
Sure it can be done. You could dremel your initials in the sideplate, too.
Seriously, though, water will make it rust. I suppose you could dunk it in boiling water, and then oil it immediately afterward, but a normal cleaning and some Flitz to polish the front of the cylinder is what works for me. Plus a dishwasher has trouble cleaning both sides of a fork. I wouldn't trust it to do anything but put water in the nooks where it will begin the rusting.
If you're worried about those nooks and crannies, dump some non-corrosive cleaner in the action, blast it out with at least 80 psi air pressure, then spray your favorite oil in there, and push it through with some air. When I clean out my single actions, for example, 80 psi down the hammer (or in the window), pushes black crud out of every seam.
"Good idea or no?"
No.
1 part Hoppe's No. 9 + 1 part toothbrush + 1 part elbow grease = clean gun.
There is a thread at The Firing Line on using a diswasher for cosmoline removal on C&R guns, the discussion might interest you.
Also, Cylinder & Slide makes Dunk-Kit, a tub-style cleaning agent. I haven't used it, but maybe Tam or some more experienced gunnies have and can give a recommendation.
I haven't used the Dunk-Kit, but then I haven't known C&S to sell junky stuff, either.
Some tips for stainless steel revolvers:
1) A Lead-Away cloth works great on the cylinder face. (Do NOT use this on a blued gun.)
2) A spritz of Pam cooking spray on the front of the cylinder before you go to the range will allow you to wipe the cack off afterward with naught but a paper towel.
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