Dirty 3 screw help needed

[lfpiii]

Hi all,

I need some help. Just picked up a 3 screw unconverted Blackhawk 357 6-1/2 barrel 1968 production. Picked it up for $150.00 some rust, grip frame damaged and extremely dirty. Looks like was fired and never cleaned and stayed in a glove box for 50 years. The caked on grease and dirt needs to come off before I take it apart. What should I dunk the whole fun on for a couple of days to soften up the gunk? I wants to keep what bluing it still has left. Suggestions?

Thanks,

 

[SteelBlue]

PB Blaster

 

[grobin]

Heated ultrasonic with kerosene or a simple bucket with Murphy's soap and hot water. Use Evapo-Rust on the rust. Then see what else needs cleaning/fixing.

 

[Enigma]

I'd mix a quart of ATF with a quart of acetone, and soak it in that. Or maybe plain old K-1 Kerosene. Actually, any cleaning solvent would probably break the dirt and grease loose.

 

[powder smoke]

Most any oil based solvent would be ok, thing is some work quicker that others.
Let it soak and use a tooth brush for stubborn spots. JMO ps

 

[contender]

Remove the grips, cover in K-1 Kerosene for a few days to allow it to soak through. Then, start the cleaning process. A good disassembly and scrubbing in the K-1 is cheap & easy.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Kerosene (diesel fuel) works great. Remove the grip panels and submerge the gun for a few days, then scrub. If you can blow it out with compressed air after the dunking, so much the better.

Repeat as desired.

:mrgreen:

 

[hittman]

If you have a buddy who is an auto mechanic plop it in his parts washer or in the tank they soak carbs in.

 

[rugerguy]

bottom line all good points and ideas above, all work we use them all too,,,,when we had the shop we had an ultrasonic cleaner with LPS , and a larger tank with mineral spirits, and we used either man made or natural mineral spirits both worked.......and yes to this day we still use good old WD-40, a scrub brush ,swab and like 'ale-8' said, an air hose............you are not going to do any damage to the bluing unless you use an abrasive or an acid bath, such as Naval jelly, or any of the muriatic acid solutions, then you will remove the bluing !!!!!! :shock:

and yes as noted above, remove any wood or plastic ( hard rubber) grips beforehand,,, 8) :roll:

 

[Ale-8(1)]

If you have a buddy who is an auto mechanic plop it in his parts washer or in the tank they soak carbs in.

Be careful with some of these cleaning arrangements, they can damage aluminum parts like ejector rod housings and grip frames.

 

[dixie cat]

spray with break kleen from the parts store, it will cut any grease and crude instantly and will not hurt a thing. but remove the grips first,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Salmoneye]

Use Evapo-Rust on the rust.

Not if (as he stated) he wants to keep as much of the original bluing as possible...

 

[NitroAcres]

And also add Before and After photos here...

 

[woodperson]

I am sure we all wish we had a dirty 3 screw to clean up. Good find.

 

[lfpiii]

Thank you all for the information. I just wish the gun could talk, what stories would it have. I will post pictures.

 

[jstanfield103]

I would use Non-Chlorinated Brake cleaner. Make sure it is Non-Chlorinated. It will cut all the dirt off. Make sure to remove the grips as already stated.