Moderator cleaning and care.

[fixedwheel]

Hi all

Looking for advice on the best way to clean and maintain a non strippable moderator.

My strippable Wildcat for the rimfire is easy, take apart, drop in ultrasonic, dry, tiny bit of grease on threads and o-rings, reassemble & store. Being anodised aluminium, the diffuser isn't going to rust though.

However I have a second ASE Ultra for a .308, haven't used it yet, as the rifle is for target use at the moment.

Thinking to spray liberally with Legia to soften, drop in ultrasonic, dry, light spray with Legia before storing.

Any other thoughts welcome.

 

[NullMac]

Give it a dunt on the table occassionally and see if anything falls out.

Done

 

[fixedwheel]

Give it a dunt on the table occassionally and see if anything falls out.

Done

Done that, loads of crap falling out, that's why I'd like to clean it, so it doesn't act like a new puppy every time it is moved.

 

[Will the chippy]

Soak it in a bucket of hot water with some citric acid in. Swish it about a bit. Should remove a good bit of it.
Better still an ultrasonic if you've got one big enough.

 

[fixedwheel]

Soak it in a bucket of hot water with some citric acid in. Swish it about a bit. Should remove a good bit of it.
Better still an ultrasonic if you've got one big enough.

Was thinking of getting a bigger ultrasonic anyways, might be the deciding factor. Ta.

 

[Will the chippy]

You only need it half as big as your mod. Do half and flip it over.

 

[fixedwheel]

You only need it half as big as your mod. Do half and flip it over.

With my existing ultrasonic, it wouldn't get much submerged, as it is not very deep.

 

[Will the chippy]

More length needed.

 

[old keeper]

Not too sure if this would apply to a "normal" mod. Many years ago I bought three Quicksilver mods, these are titanium with ceramic baffles. I was told by the American manufacturers to fill them with vinegar and then flush them out with water. I've done this for the last 20 years and they are as good as new

I don't think they are available over here now, pretty costly mods but 20 years and still going strong is okay by me!

Not too sure what effect vinegar would have on a steel mod?

 

[fixedwheel]

Not too sure if this would apply to a "normal" mod. Many years ago I bought three Quicksilver mods, these are titanium with ceramic baffles. I was told by the American manufacturers to fill them with vinegar and then flush them out with water. I've done this for the last 20 years and they are as good as new

I don't think they are available over here now, pretty costly mods but 20 years and still going strong is okay by me!

Not too sure what effect vinegar would have on a steel mod?

Probably guessing that the ceramic baffles wouldn't take kindly to several hard bashes on the table to knock the muck out.

Having seen how much crap the rimfire mods collect in relatively few shots, (.17HMR shocked me in under 20 rounds) I am probably overly concerned for the ASE

 

[MAH]

Any other thoughts welcome

I have an Asi, I follow the manufacturer's "care instructions" that came with it.
M

 

[fixedwheel]

I have an Asi, I follow the manufacturer's "care instructions" that came with it.
M

Sorry, just realised I said "second ASE Utra" instead of "secondhand ASE Utra" which means I don't have all the docs.

And the manufacturers bit on their website is hardly comprehensive, as it consists of a 0"36' video -

 

[jthyttin]

Seems to be quite hard to find manual in English, although I think I've seen one. Here's quick translation from S series Finnish manual (sorry for spelling). Might be mostly same as the video (that I didn't watch):

Maintenance

Moderator is removed after use, and placed vertically so moisture that might have accumulated vaporizes. After that, you can spray gun oil inside the mod and rotate the mod so that oil is distributed inside the mod.

The crud deposited inside the mod will dissolve in gun oil. Use the oil sparingly, since it creates extra smoke during fire. If maintenance has been neglected, the mod can be washed with special detergent, contact manufacturer. Attention: gun oil inside the mod might result in higher attenuation for a shot or few. The moderator thread should be oiled with quality gun oil to prevent seizure. Store the mod in dry place, lightly oiled.

Personally, regarding the above steps, I'd only use the first one i.e. remove after shooting (and if possible, also during range session) and place vertically. Also keep your rifle vertical, and action open.

If you're serious about mod cleaning, weigh it and keep records. Then you can see if it collects crud (centerfires are not nearly as bad as rimfire). If you feel the need to put anything inside the mod, make sure you also get it out before "real use".

 

[fixedwheel]

Tanks @jthyttin Pretty much the (little) amount of information that they put in the short YouTube video I linked to.

They don't say which gun oil, and they certainly don't list the "dissolvent provided by the manufacture" ie, themselves as the manufacturer.

I'm coming to the conclusion that, initially, I will soften with Legia, drop it into an ultrasonic and try and get as much out as possible. And then weigh to have a base point.

Going forward, spray with Legia for storage, maybe a quick swill with isopropyl alcohol before usage to remove any oil, and the isopropyl will evaporate before a shot goes down range.

Then use, and store upright, and see what happens.

 

[bluesako]

ive got a t 8 had it over 15 years still going strong after a squirt of wd 40

 

[Ratsbadboy]

From the instructions that came with my ASE mod:

 

[fixedwheel]

Thanks for that @Ratsbadboy

 

[Greenmist]

Depending on the finish of the mod, be careful with the ultrasonic, I did a moderator once and it stripped the finish

 

[fixedwheel]

Depending on the finish of the mod, be careful with the ultrasonic, I did a moderator once and it stripped the finish

Thanks for the reminder, I have a plastic basket for delicate items. Another way is a plastic bag with item and cleaning solution, and put that into an ultrasonic of just water.

 

[Scooby-3]

Tanks @jthyttin Pretty much the (little) amount of information that they put in the short YouTube video I linked to.

They don't say which gun oil, and they certainly don't list the "dissolvent provided by the manufacture" ie, themselves as the manufacturer.

I'm coming to the conclusion that, initially, I will soften with Legia, drop it into an ultrasonic and try and get as much out as possible. And then weigh to have a base point.

Going forward, spray with Legia for storage, maybe a quick swill with isopropyl alcohol before usage to remove any oil, and the isopropyl will evaporate before a shot goes down range.

Then use, and store upright, and see what happens.

How did it turn out after the ultra sonic bath?