sassybaskets - 23-6-2013 at 16:29
Hi all
So we've been trying to run electrolysis to clean a rifle barrel, and it's worked well for removing copper residue, but there is still lead that will
not come off. I'm thinking of running electrolysis using the barrel as the anode, in a solution of lead acetate. We're not completely sure how to go
about doing this, or if it'll work at all (we don't know what lead salt/oxides are even deposited on the barrel). Anyone care to weigh in?
cyanureeves - 23-6-2013 at 17:31
wont the steel give first? like chemotherapy in that you hope to poison the cancer before the chemo poisons the patient.hoppe's#9 and a brush have
been doing fine work for eons and it smells good too.
violet sin - 23-6-2013 at 17:35
I picked up a bunch of lead slugs from a shooting range for lead acetate. used a lead acetate/vinegar sol. to draw more into solution and plate out
lead sponge. it works for electrolysis and acetate production but I am unsure how it would treat your barrel material. I used a stainless nail to
contact the pile of slugs in the solution and it tried to eat through the stainless nail a bit. as it turns out I had missed a few copper jackets on
some slugs, and it took the lead out of them with minimal loss of copper into sol. (some did come over for sure). maybe you could do a test with a
similar steel by torching lead to its surface. or mechanically rubbing some lead on a nail, what ever just give it a shot. just don't use a
galvanized nail as results would not be realistic compared to barrel material.
try the solution you had planned on the leaded nail/scrap and see if it turns all yellow from iron, or visibly pitts it while cleaning. personally I
wouldn't risk my barrel with out a test but tha'ts just me. last vinegar cleaning wasn't too nice to my .50cal black powder rifle. no electrolysis
was used but I did get minor pitting 
see if any one here has some info of a
more scientific nature. I am long out of practice on all the commonly known rules from college. I been reading up to get back to that point. but
for right now I only read on project I intend to do soon so the rest could be viewed as more practical chemistry. it gets the job done but I am often
unaware of all the peripheral actions happening. hope it helps
Metacelsus - 24-6-2013 at 12:53
Why the lead acetate solution? It will hinder the dissolution of the lead. If you don't want the steel to corrode, I recommend using a concentrated
iron(II) solution.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nernst_equation
You need to make it more favorable for lead to be oxidized than iron.
Generally, I think electrolysis is a bad idea if you want to preserve your barrel.
lavenatti - 25-6-2013 at 02:43
I've used a 50/50 (volume) mix of 3% hydrogen peroxide and vinegar to clean lead out of gun barrels. Just have a container for the waste fluid and
sludge handy. A lot less scrubbing and no electricity required.