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removing solder from 1886 Win mag tube

dandak1
Hello all. Bought an 1886 Winchester parts gun for a song last year. Buttplate, entire action, mag tube and mag cap were all original, rest was an aftermarket bubba job. Am in the process of rebuilding it and want to use as many original parts as possible. One of the things Bubba did was solder a magazine ring onto the mag tube, in the wrong location. I unsoldered it and slid it off, but the solder left a brilliant silver colored area where it used to be. Bubba also soldered a brass ring in front of the forearm (for decoration??) that left the same mark when i finally got it off. So how do i remove the solder?? Heating and wiping isnt doing it...this solder is bonded to the metal. Any ideas?
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Comments

9 comments

Date Votes
  • asphalt cowboy
    I've had best results using heat and #0000 steel wool to get the majority of it. For the very thin remnants a Brownells monitor wheel mounted directly to a 1/3 horse electric motor. Bare in mind, there is some risk to the blue when using the wire wheel.
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  • Justjump
    I have used an ammonia (acid?) and rub with a piece of soft copper. It has a distinct aroma and would recommend ventilation. I think I got mine in a powder form (to be reconstituted) from Indian Jeweler Supply in Gallup NM. It may remove the bluing so be careful.

    Edit-Its used to clean the solder from jewelry
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  • MIKE WISKEY
    "use Sal Ammoniac to remove the tinning "........just the opposite, you use a salammoniac blosk to TIN a soldering iron. the only way to remove the solder is to buff it off, it is bonded to the base metal (there is only bright steel and solder at this point, you can't solder to blued steel). then reblue
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  • wpage
    There is a product looks like copper mesh comes in a roll and you hold against the solder and put a soldering iron against it and it draws the solder off...

    See if you can find a old telephone man to give you some.
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  • Bill DeShivs
    Mike Whiskey is correct.
    The solder will have to be mechanicaly removed.
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  • Bert H.
    Use the copper mesh solder dewicking tool mentioned by wpage, and make sure that you thoroughly wet it with flux before placing the tip of the soldering iron on the mesh. It will draw off 99% of the solder if done properly. In the electronics industry that is how we remove excess or solder from a printed circuit board.
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  • dandak1
    Okay thanks to all. Will look for this copper mesh, try to desolder, then decide about rebluing....Once I get the solder off may just try to discolor the affected area to match what is already there (ie: not bluing, but more of a brown patina on the entire mag tube). Just measured the tube length and it may be a moot point now. The barrel bubba put on is 23" long...I do believe my mag tube has been shortened already anyway....may not be able to use it after all. I have to rejoin the Cody museum and get the details on what this rifle left the factory as, then rebuild as appropriate. Maybe. I may also say "screw it" and rebuild it as a 45-70 carbine. Serial 22XXX, receiver has been drilled and tapped for the receiver sight on it, it has minimal collector value but I love rebuilding old guns.
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  • Junkballer
    I've had good luck by heating and then quickly wiping with a wet/damp rag. May take a few passes "to git her done".
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  • Bill DeShivs
    Desoldering with copper mesh will not remove all of the solder. The remainder must be removed mechanically, so don't bother with desoldering- just file it to bare metal. You also can't effectively color the solder remnants.
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