doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com solder breakdown due to powder solvent

Are there any studies,reports,etc. on damage caused by powder solvents to the soft solder on doubles?

MM,
I dunno, but I stopped using any solvents that claim "lead solvent" years ago on my doubles. I've never had a reason to use strong lead disolving solvents. I have heard that some of the doubles with ribs delaminating at the muzzles were due to solvents but I have no evidence one way or another that proves or disproves. One gun I had that was delaminating had a fairly dark color to the solder. Might have been a reaction to solvent. I figure if I don't need it to clean, why use a solvent that potentially could cause problems?

All I've ever heard or read on the subject appeared to be old husband's tales, IMO. I've never had any such trouble. Maybe in my next 72 years.

Where are the chemist?? I believe that there is no solvent that will "dissolve" pure lead, if fact aqua regia ( a mix of nitric and sulphuric acid) which will dissolve gold must be stored in pure lead containers. Soft solder on the other hand is an alloy of lead and zinc?? or other metals to meet some required property, so I would think the "solvent" in the cleaners attacks the alloy metal destroying the bond. JMHO --- John Can.

Tin and Lead, John. 60% Tin/40% Lead or there abouts is common.

I mentioned this in another post way way back.

What made me think this was a possible cause was looking at alot of SxS's that the ribs were letting go on the front and rear ends...likely places for Solvent exposure.

It is also the spots were the shot meets resistence in the form of forcing cone and choke it must set up a pretty nasty vibration when a shot charge hits either

Nonetheless, unless someone has specific data on a specific solvent, I'll stay away from the chemically agressive solvents, since I don't need them to clean my guns anyway. Most of the time, I just spray some RemOil in the bore, and run a Borerunner w/bronze brush down the bores, then wipe the outside with the same. On very rare occasion, I will use mineral spirits and a bronze brush, sometimes with ScotchBrite or steelwool wrapped around it, in a drillmotor for a particularly difficult barrel.

If anyone is cleaning their guns with such powerful "solvents", I cant imagine they would want to be cleaning their guns very often. Anything that potent would be nasty stuff, and I know I wouldnt want to do it after every shooting like I do with normal oil. Many target shooters use products such as Sweets to defoul thier bores from copper and lead, and let me tell you, this stuff is horrible smelling but it works. This stuff is only made for cleaning inside the barrel, so Im not sure how or why it would loosen a rib. I have a gallon of BC Barricade in my shop which I use to refill small spray bottles, and it works great for cleaning the inside and outside of all gun barrels. Hell, people strip barrels to refinish them by dipping them in mild acids and as long as the barrels get blown off and neutralized in baking soda they are fine. If anyone has ever removed bluing with BC blue & rust remover they would have a better chance of "dissolving" solder than they would if they used "solvents" to "clean" their guns.

I'm talking long term damage on vintage guns...not over night. I've been cleaning mine Ballistol.

Hoppes Solvents is one of the oldest I know of...it would be the one to test.