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Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2006 12:45:03 -0700
From: Dale Rogers <dale.r@cox.net>
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To: Rotary motors in aircraft <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Subject: Re: [FlyRotary] Fw: Lead Solvent or Cleaner
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Ed Anderson wrote:

>  
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* Ed Anderson <mailto:eanderson@carolina.rr.com>
> *To:* Rotary motors in aircraft <mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
> *Sent:* Thursday, January 19, 2006 1:22 PM
> *Subject:* Lead Solvent or Cleaner
>
> Ok, you gun enthusiasts, I have a question.  It appears that the best 
> hope of finding a lead solvent is among the many gun cleaning 
> products.  Hoppe #9 has been mentioned, but when I did some research, 
> I really got a bit confused.  I think there is little distinction made 
> between a true "solvent" and a cleaner.   As best I recall from my 
> highschool chemistry days, nothing appeared (that I recall) to 
> dissolve lead - but, that was a while ago.  So again, it would appear 
> that if any body would have something to dissolve lead it would be the 
> gun crowd.
>  
> For instance, on some of the "Gun" talk lists, I have seen reference 
> to Hoppe #9 as a "Powder" cleaner  and to Shooter's Choice Lead 
> Solvent as a "lead solvent".  Actually I've seen Hoppe referred to for 
> lead removal as well- but, doesn't claim it dissolves lead.
>  
>  If Hoppe is primarily a "powder" remover then that may explain it not 
> working as well as we had hoped.  I just asked my wife to pick up some 
> on her trip to support the economy and then found indications on the 
> web. that what I might really want is Shooter's Choice Lead Solvent - 
> but that could be just another "cleaner" rather than a true dissolve 
> of lead.
>  
> I suspect that most of these products may be cleaners rather than 
> solvents despite what they are called.  Anyone really know? 
>  
>  
> Thanks
>  
> Ed
>  
> Ed Anderson
> Rv-6A N494BW Rotary Powered
> Matthews, NC
> eanderson@carolina.rr.com <mailto:eanderson@carolina.rr.com>

Ed,

   I certainly qualify as an "enthusiast", but I'll have to admit
that I've not done any heavy investigation into the chemistry of bore
cleaning.  I've used #9 for nearly all my shooting years (~50), and
your observation may be valid. I don't think it "dissolves" lead
itself; rather, it weakens the bond between the lead and the metal
it is stuck to.  It still takes a bit of scrubbing with a wire
brush to get the lead smears to break loose (less if you let the
cleaner sit in the bore for a bit.)  I'd think that would be less
of a problem with spark plugs, since you don't have the same level
of mechanical infusion of the lead into the surface. (At the
beginning of the bore, pressures at the base of the bullet from
propellant combustion are in the range of 30,000 psi (pistol) to
50,000 psi (rifle).

Looking forward to your report.

Dale R.
COZY MkIV #1254