Steam Cleaning Flintlock Rifle Barrel

[fleener]

Again, no issues with what you are saying. Agree 100%.

Now pass the jug, it is Friday night. However I do have my son's soccer game to go to tonight.

Fleener

 

[wattlebuster]

If thats what tickles your fancy then get er done :thumbsup:

 

[azmntman]

Again, no issues with what you are saying. Agree 100%.

Now pass the jug, it is Friday night. However I do have my son's soccer game to go to tonight.

Fleener

Kids soccer games are MUCH more fun with a jug :grin:

 

[M. De Land]

Problem with using a dish washer though it that it remove oil and grease from inside the guns bearing points that can only be re-lubed properly by disassembly.
Spraying them down with your favorite CLP is not good re-lube procedure and you can't use grease where it should be used unless you break the gun down.

 

[joe sebia]

Personally I never could understand the great mystique around cleaning MLs. It's really a simple procedure accomplished with soap and water. It does take time though which in today's society is a very precious commodity. There is no "right way" to clean a rifle. Best is whatever works for you.

We all enjoy our hobby for different reasons. Some shoot, some hunt, some collect, some build, some reenact, some sit back and dream of days long ago, some are concerned with historical correctness. All with varying degrees of commitment. When it stops being fun sell the rifle.

 

[MSW]

I had a friend that used to clean his removable T\C Hawken barrel in his dishwasher. Just goes to show ya that being LAZY is the "Mother of Invention" :hmm: :youcrazy:

now SWMBO has her little quirks, but they don't go so far as to put up with rifle barrels in the dishwasher!

i'll just go with the lukewarm water and dishsoap method ... it's worked for a long time, it's the easiest and simplest, and it's by far the cheapest method ... leaves more time to shoot, or walk the dog, or cuss politicians, or stare mindlessly off into space

if, on the other hand, the steam cleaner works for you, then by all means go for it ...

 

[Crewdawg445]

Cracks me up... all the lengths people will go to clean.

Certainly goes to show you laziness wasnt tolerated with 18th century cleaning! What would we do today if or precious arms actually had to be used and show it!?

Hot water... that's it, been used long before any of us were here and still proves to be # 1.

 

[Cowboy]

Just bought a portable hand held steam cleaner to clean my flintlock rifle after shooting.

I had to reread the topic title to be sure I wasn't reading it wrong! :haha:

I personally don't see any harm in trying out something new or different!

As Rifleman1776 always says " It's a do your own thang game! "

I've had many light bulb moments in the past and still do on occasion. Most mine never pan out, but when one finally does! :wink:

I give you an A+ for imagination, effort, and ingenuity!

Respectfully, Cowboy :thumbsup:

 

[hawkeye2]

rfcbuf was that a commercial product made to clean guns or an adaption of another style steam cleaner? Where did you see the demo, Utube? Can you provide a link?

 

[rusty]

I like to keep things simple myself..

 

[Ames]

Not gonna happen. No way.
I treat the barrels here like I treat the cast iron pans.
Plus, if you think about it, if you steam a barrel in the stock until its too hot to touch, that's gotta play hell on the wood. I'd never do that to a piece of furniture never mind a stock.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Cracks me up... all the lengths people will go to clean.

It's not just the traditional BP community....apparently there is a portion of the "shooter community" that tinkers a lot with this chore.

The OP also mentioned cleaning modern revolvers. Well like folks trying to cut a few minutes off of BP cleaning, folks do that for modern stuff too.

For BP about 25 years ago the newest thing on the block was replacing the nipple on your caplock rifle with a tube from a bucket of solvent, and then a special rod was used that acted as a plunger..., you then syringed the solvent back and forth into the bore via the nipple hole.

At the same time guys were taking their stainless police revolvers and putting them in the dishwasher after removal of the grips, then oil them up after drying..., OR taking their "racing guns" [IPSC semi-autos] and dunking these overnight into a bucket of solvent, then drip dry followed by air blasting, then lube and go again...., the removable breech on certain modern crossover designed rifles that come into our hunting seasons came about for "easy cleaning". :shocked2:

Not trying to talk modern stuff just illustrating that it's not specific to our hobby.

And all the time I thought water, soap, and a piece of tow and a piece of cloth, followed by oil was pretty simple from the beginning.

:idunno:

LD

 

[azmntman]

For BP about 25 years ago the newest thing on the block was replacing the nipple on your caplock rifle with a tube from a bucket of solvent, and then a special rod was used that acted as a plunger..., you then syringed the solvent back and forth into the bore via the nipple hole.

I remember those! I had one, as I recall they worked "OK" but not near enough solution, had to keep changing out in the tiny lil bottle :td:

 

[Gene L]

On a patent breech caplock, you can remove the barrel, stick the breech in a bucket of soapy water and any patch will set up a siphon when it gets wet and draw liquid up in the barrel.

 

[Twisted_1in66]

A simple procedure that kept the patent breech on my Traditions Pennsylvania Longrifle clean was to remove the lock; put a toothpick in the flash hole; put an inch or two of MAP or other cleaning solution (or plain water) in the barrel and let it set while I cleaned the lock. After cleaning the lock, I'd take wet a patch and push it down until you feel some good compression from the liquid in the barrel - usually about half way down. Then point the flash hole away from anything that can get stained; pull the toothpick out of the flash hole and quickly press the ramrod/patch down until it stops.

This shoots out with lots of pressure about a 6-foot stream of ugly black liquid you don't want to get on your clothes or tent, and pressure washes that patent breech out just great. That way I didn't have to drill anything out or get a special smaller cleaning brush to clean out the patent breech. Did that for about 6-8 years without any problems caused by a dirty or clogged breech.

I still use that same method on my Early Lancaster/York rifle even though it has a normal breech on it. It just works well for cleaning.

Twisted_1in66 :thumbsup:
Dan

 

[rfcbuf]

I purchased the Qualitus Cleveland Portable Steam Cleaner on Amazon with shipping for $42.

 

[rfcbuf]

The link below has the Pedersoli company video showing a rifle cleaning procedure with a steam cleaner that they sell. You will also find the link on page 1 of this post.
http://www.davide-pedersoli.com/scheda-accessorio.asp/l_en/i...

 

[Onojutta]

Never used steam to clean my gun, but I have used a hot iron and damp rag to remove all the dents and dings I put in my stock when cleaning the gun.

So, perhaps another use for the steamer.

 

[SgtErv]

Hmmm...there are a couple of small marks in my rifle, there when I purchased it...care to share this iron and damp rag dent removal method?

 

[Rick Boylan]

Here's an example of doing that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMEZSDPFzf4

Another example. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_Z_h76Sd1w

:hatsoff: