04 Rocko Taco
07-28-2009, 11:47 AM
Okay guys, so after a bit of research I have decided to give both of my 1943 Mosin Nagant M91/30's a dose of electrolysis to remove the decades of fouling from the bores.
I have one "clean" rifle, it is my all original '43, and one "dirty" rifle which is my sporterized one. I spend about 3 times as much time and effort on cleaning the sporterized one, but can never get the bore clean, but the original one looks like a mirror.
Okay first, the setup for electrolysis...
After a lot of research it looks like any solution that doesn't have a neutral pH will work just fine, acids are better.
After reviewing a lot of suggestions and pH discussions, I decided on what seems to be the most common solution. 1 part vinegar, 1 part ammonia, and 2 parts water (tap, not distilled).
From what I gathered I have seen people using anything from 1.5 volts up to around 8 volts. The commercial kits seem to use right around 3 volts. I chose an old cell phone charger for my power supply. 3.7 volt, 340 mA output. I cut the end off of the charger, and spliced some alligator clips to the wires. You can also do this by stacking batteries. Alkaline batteries (AAA,AA,C,D, whatever) will be nominally 1.5 volts, so you can use the battery holder from a flashlight, or just put them end to end and tape the wires to the batteries to acheive the right voltage. Remember that C's or D's have more power reserve than AA's, but they are still the same 1.5 voltage.
You will need a steel rod, sizes may vary with your rifles, I chose a 4' steel welding rod from Lowe's. You will need to wrap electrical tape around the steel rod, one wrap at the end that will rest down at the breach end of the rifle, and again up at the end inside the muzzle, so that your rod will not short out the system by touching the barrel.
You will need a rubber stopper (again sizes will vary with rifle, I sourced mine from Lowe's) You will need to insert the rubber stopper into the breach end of the bore, and secure it, you can test your stopper with a little bit of water in the bore to see if it leaks.
I taped a funnel to the end of the barrel to facilitate the pouring and to handle the foaming action of the solution.
Once the funnel is secured in place, then you simply pour your solution in, pour slowly to allow the air to escape, then insert your rod into the bore, remember to double check your tape, as it needs to be enough to keep the rod from contacting the side of the barrel, but not so much as to block the flow of liquid or detritus from the bore.
Once this is set up, simply hook the positive lead of your power source to the barrel of the rifle, and connect the negative lead to the electrode (rod).
Within a few minutes you should see some bubbles coming up out of the bore, congratulations, it's working. You really don't want this to run for more than about 10-20 minutes at a stretch. The foam will begin bringing up little specks of debris and fouling, and after the elapsed time, unhook your power supply, pull the rod (be prepared to wipe it down) and dump the solution, at this point you will need to remove the stopper, and clean your rifle normally. Repeat if desired. If left running for long periods of time at a stretch there is the possibility of the process leaving small voids in the bore of the rifle.
Most write ups I have seen recommend a 3 cycle process. I am prepping for 2 on my "clean" rifle, and expecting 4 or more on the "dirty" rifle. I will post pictures of the setup and results once I finish.
UPDATE:
Pictures!! (this was all with the "clean" rifle, sorry no pictures of the "dirty" rifle. Also, I stripped all of the stock and handgaurd off, so as to avoid any damage done to the original wood.
Here is my electrolysis rig setup.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k112/04RockoTaco/Guns/Electrolysis/DSCF2175.jpg
Solution (1/2 cup vinegar, 1/2 cup ammonia, 1 cup water - WAY more than needed to do my two rifles)
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k112/04RockoTaco/Guns/Electrolysis/DSCF2176.jpg
Hey look! it's working, first it bubbles, then it builds up as foam...
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k112/04RockoTaco/Guns/Electrolysis/DSCF2180.jpg
Then my foam looked like this... (on the "CLEAN" rifle!!!!)
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k112/04RockoTaco/Guns/Electrolysis/DSCF2174.jpg
This is the crud I wiped off of the rod after cycle 1.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k112/04RockoTaco/Guns/Electrolysis/DSCF2177.jpg
and this is the solution that came out of the bore...
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k112/04RockoTaco/Guns/Electrolysis/DSCF2185.jpg
I have one "clean" rifle, it is my all original '43, and one "dirty" rifle which is my sporterized one. I spend about 3 times as much time and effort on cleaning the sporterized one, but can never get the bore clean, but the original one looks like a mirror.
Okay first, the setup for electrolysis...
After a lot of research it looks like any solution that doesn't have a neutral pH will work just fine, acids are better.
After reviewing a lot of suggestions and pH discussions, I decided on what seems to be the most common solution. 1 part vinegar, 1 part ammonia, and 2 parts water (tap, not distilled).
From what I gathered I have seen people using anything from 1.5 volts up to around 8 volts. The commercial kits seem to use right around 3 volts. I chose an old cell phone charger for my power supply. 3.7 volt, 340 mA output. I cut the end off of the charger, and spliced some alligator clips to the wires. You can also do this by stacking batteries. Alkaline batteries (AAA,AA,C,D, whatever) will be nominally 1.5 volts, so you can use the battery holder from a flashlight, or just put them end to end and tape the wires to the batteries to acheive the right voltage. Remember that C's or D's have more power reserve than AA's, but they are still the same 1.5 voltage.
You will need a steel rod, sizes may vary with your rifles, I chose a 4' steel welding rod from Lowe's. You will need to wrap electrical tape around the steel rod, one wrap at the end that will rest down at the breach end of the rifle, and again up at the end inside the muzzle, so that your rod will not short out the system by touching the barrel.
You will need a rubber stopper (again sizes will vary with rifle, I sourced mine from Lowe's) You will need to insert the rubber stopper into the breach end of the bore, and secure it, you can test your stopper with a little bit of water in the bore to see if it leaks.
I taped a funnel to the end of the barrel to facilitate the pouring and to handle the foaming action of the solution.
Once the funnel is secured in place, then you simply pour your solution in, pour slowly to allow the air to escape, then insert your rod into the bore, remember to double check your tape, as it needs to be enough to keep the rod from contacting the side of the barrel, but not so much as to block the flow of liquid or detritus from the bore.
Once this is set up, simply hook the positive lead of your power source to the barrel of the rifle, and connect the negative lead to the electrode (rod).
Within a few minutes you should see some bubbles coming up out of the bore, congratulations, it's working. You really don't want this to run for more than about 10-20 minutes at a stretch. The foam will begin bringing up little specks of debris and fouling, and after the elapsed time, unhook your power supply, pull the rod (be prepared to wipe it down) and dump the solution, at this point you will need to remove the stopper, and clean your rifle normally. Repeat if desired. If left running for long periods of time at a stretch there is the possibility of the process leaving small voids in the bore of the rifle.
Most write ups I have seen recommend a 3 cycle process. I am prepping for 2 on my "clean" rifle, and expecting 4 or more on the "dirty" rifle. I will post pictures of the setup and results once I finish.
UPDATE:
Pictures!! (this was all with the "clean" rifle, sorry no pictures of the "dirty" rifle. Also, I stripped all of the stock and handgaurd off, so as to avoid any damage done to the original wood.
Here is my electrolysis rig setup.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k112/04RockoTaco/Guns/Electrolysis/DSCF2175.jpg
Solution (1/2 cup vinegar, 1/2 cup ammonia, 1 cup water - WAY more than needed to do my two rifles)
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k112/04RockoTaco/Guns/Electrolysis/DSCF2176.jpg
Hey look! it's working, first it bubbles, then it builds up as foam...
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k112/04RockoTaco/Guns/Electrolysis/DSCF2180.jpg
Then my foam looked like this... (on the "CLEAN" rifle!!!!)
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k112/04RockoTaco/Guns/Electrolysis/DSCF2174.jpg
This is the crud I wiped off of the rod after cycle 1.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k112/04RockoTaco/Guns/Electrolysis/DSCF2177.jpg
and this is the solution that came out of the bore...
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k112/04RockoTaco/Guns/Electrolysis/DSCF2185.jpg