remove modeling clay from a spoon
 

Have a spoon of the 10/22 variety that I've been projecting on. Latest is to bed the receiver and first few inches of barrel.

Per many instructions on the intarwebz I used modeling clay to block off areas that I didn't want bedding stuff into to avoid mechanical lock, etc. Got most of it off/out but I still have some in various nooks and crannies of the receiver and underside of the barrel.

So what can I use to help dissolve/wash out the remnants of the oil based modeling clay? Something oil based (WD40) or something oil removing like carb or brake cleaner?

Carb cleaner. But remember, many a carb cleaner will discolor plastics.

brake cleaner is generally safer for plastics in my experience.

An ultrasonic cleaner would make quick work of it.

Otherwise...

The good news is that modeling clay will absorb water quickly, making it easy to break up. The bad news is that modeling clay will absorb water quickly, meaning any left behind clay may cause rust. I'd personally start with gun oil and see if you can soften the clay with that. That sitting against the metal won't cause any damage.

Isopropyl alcohol.

Safe for plastic and it should do the job easily.

I clean my spoons in the dishwasher.

Brake cleaner, when burned, gives off a rather nasty nerve gas. Phosgene I think it's called. Something like that.
Just make sure it's all gone before firing said spoon.

Same goes when welding parts that have been exposed to brake cleaner but with extra emphasis.

Doesn't that make your wife mad?

Isn't WD40 or lighter fluid generally accepted as the safest way to remove residue?

OK, this is an old 10/22 so no plastic to worry about.

I was leaning towards WD40, since it is a oil "water" and could wash/rinse it all out and maybe pick up all the particles of clay. But... brake cleaner/carb cleaner would blast it all away.

Will try two prong approach - first, WD40 and more aggressive work with tooth pick and q-tips. After that, blast it all down with brake cleaner and see what I have left.

Spoon in question - started as rusty $95 10/22 at a pawn shop, replaced barrel with a Tactical Solutions bull barrel (15 oz - aluminum w/ steel insert), cut stock back at an angel to get rid of thin part for barrel band, cut butt off to remove curve for butt plate, hogged barrel channel out for the .920 barrel, put in a brass pillar for bedding the take down screw/point, sanded, sanded some more, stained w/ MinWax "Ebony", made a butt pad out of a flip flop to get some LOP back. When all done with a 4x scope on it it was just 5lbs loaded - too light for off hand shooting, so I added the sling and bipod to bring it up to 6lbs. Only parts replaced were the barrel and the mag release - went for a lever style from KIDD very nice, my kids have no issue using it.

http://www.itsjustcrap.com/gunpix/build1.jpg

http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitpic/phot...mMiWJFIGj6Q%3D

Is there such a thing as "too light"?

When shooting off hand, yes.

I was concerned about using solvents on my P22, so I bought a can of MAF cleaner at my FLAPS. It has "safe for plastic" right on the front of the can.