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Posted: 8/9/2010 12:16:24 PM EDT
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so I have a YHM MITE that I can take apart to clean, I have not shot it so much yet (in one shooting session) that it has required much cleaning. I don't really see any lead build up yet. But my question is that should my MITE one day get stuck closed, could I use a torch to heat the MITE to the point where the lead would melt and allow me to take it apart. And if the lead buildup was bad could I melt it off (after disassembly) the baffles? or would this ruin the can by weakening it or warping it?
I ask because the melting point of lead is way lower than that of aluminum, and I figure it would be safer than soda blasting becaus the lead is not put into the air and you can collect the melted lead in a coffee can or something. |
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An interesting question. I would think that softening the lead in a hot oven would definitly facilitate getting it open, as long as you can handle it while still hot. I would think it would be better than a torch because evenly heating the entire can would prevent hot spots and preclude any warping. Once open, if any of the baffles looked hopeless to clean otherwise, another stint in a 5-600 degree oven should get most, if not all of the lead off.
I had another thought, just now, if you cast your own bullets, once you get the can open and have badly caked baffles, just dropping them cold into the pot would definitelt melt any lead on the baffle, allowing any that renains to be peeled or brushed off. I don't know that this would work, but it seems reasonable to think it might. From what I've been reading, as long as you crack the threads on the can every couple of mags, while shooting, then you shouldn't havee too much trouble getting it apart come cleaning time. The other thing I have come away with from my reading is that you should either clean after every use, or don't clean at all, which the very thought of gives me the willys, too much money invested not to take care of it, IMHO. |
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I am not sure heating to remove lead is the best move. The melting point of lead is very sharp and around 625 deg F, depending on the alloy. The melting point of aluminum is just slightly over 1,200 deg F, and I am not sure at what point the heat treatment of the aluminum is destroyed. Both have specific melting points with no plastic phase (a gradual softening seen with steel and glass).
Some alloys of aluminum have yield strengths seriously greater than that of the stainless steels used in suppressors, but aluminum does not have the temperature tolerance with repeated fire which is why it is not generally suitable for rifle caliber weapons. |
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