Lock cleaning.

[fleroo]

Hey youz. At the end of the year, what do you guys do to clean your lock systems after removing it from the stock ? Do you soak it in a solvent bath ? If so what type of solvent ? Do you simply spray and rag wipe it ? That's pretty much what I've been doing. I have Ballestol, which is supposedly great stuff to use. But I don't want to "neglect" the cleaning of the lock, if simply spray and wiping isn't good enough.

[davet]

I clean the lock after every firing....or series of firing when done. Ballestol, hot soapy water followed by a good oil patch\rag wipe down, or any kind of BP specific cleaning solution followed by a good oil shine.

[acorn20]

I always clean the lock after shooting; to what degree depends on how many shots were fired. After firing a few shots in flintlock season and removing the lock, I'll spray the outside with a solvent and attack it with a stiff toothbrush. I have a brass brush for caked on fouling. Rinse with hot water and towel dry.

I used to shoot regionally and nationally at muzzle loading events where you might fire 40 - 60 shots per day. That cleaning was substantial and necessary to be able to shoot the next day. My routine involved spraying the lock inside and out with solvent and letting stand a few minutes. I would then place the lock in hot water and then give it a rough brushing with the brass brush. I'd then rinse off the residue and towel dry. I have a dremel tool with an assortment of wire wheels of brass and steel. I go over every inch of the lock inside and out with the wire wheels. Q-tips are used for the crevices inside the lock. Another hot water rinse and towel dry. It looks like a new lock when I'm finished.

After the above is done in each instance, I give the lock a very light coat of SS2 (an all purpose gun lubricant) by spraying it on a clean cloth. (I don't spray it directly on the lock) Be sure to get the inside of the lock, again using Q-tips where required, to lubricate and prevent rusting. Keep it lite on the inside as a heavy coating of oil can attract dirt and fouling.

Don't forget to remove the flint and clean it and the jaws of the cock. Both accumulate fouling.  Also, the barrel around the lock and touchhole get a similar treatment.

[fleroo]

Surprised a Dremel and wire wheel doesn't take off the patina ?

Guess I can start soaking in Dawn liquid and water mix, then toothbrush it before spraying with Ballestol.

BTW, in season, I only wipe the exterior of the lock with alcohol to remove fouling. I don't remove the lock system.

[acorn20]

If you would really bear down on the surface, the steel wire wheels will most definitely remove a little browning. There's no need to do that and it does remove stubborn fouling easily.

At muzzle loading events, I would often clean between every other shot with a cleaning patch soaked in 90% alcohol followed by a clean patch. The alcohol will remove lite fouling.