Rimfire suppressors get dirty. That is a well known fact of life that everyone that shoots 22 long rifle through a suppressor is familiar with.
This particular Dead Air Mask HD has been used for over a year on multiple host weapons. There are probably over 5000 rounds through it. Its been used for demos with my www.Texasguntrust.com clients, raccoon hunting, my kids almost exclusively shoot the Dead Air Mask HD, whenever a friend wants to shoot, he generally gets this suppressor.
The build-up of lead and carbon is stunning if you have not seen it before.
The fact that the suppressor came apart with a few shakes after this many rounds and this much build-up is a testament to the Dead Air Design team of Mike Pappas, Gary Hughes and Todd Magee.
Once open, the baffles unsnapped and came apart into their individual pieces without any effort.
A couple of the baffles had so much build-up, that the build-up lookef like a damaged baffle. It took me a few seconds to realize that this wasn't a baffle strike that I was looking at, but the lead and carbon buildup that had molded itself into a mirror of the baffle ahead of it.
After a cursory inspection of the build-up on the baffles, It was obvious that the only way to remove the lead build up was with the peracetic acid solution commonly known as the dip. I prepared a solution of 50% white vinegar and 50% hydrogen peroxide in a mason jar.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/30c93b4c57034de02471b5161698ce66.jpg"}[/IMG2]
The Dead Air Mask HD's front cap opened up easily. I was able to push the complete baffle stack out by gently shaking the suppressor and lerting it slide out.
The fact that the entire baffle stack literally slid out after this many rounds is a testament to the design Genius of Mike Pappas and the Dead Air Mask HD engineering team.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/9a9230318af3d7292cfb5f33c645ae30.jpg"}[/IMG2]
One interesting fact that I failed to notice until looking at these photographs is the lack of buildup on the outside of the baffle stack. These baffles sealed together very tightly and did not allow leading carbon to build up between the baffle stack and the tube of the silencer.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/4af8a449c43d4cfdc629ad157c6e24f8.jpg"}[/IMG2]
All the baffles are laid out for this photograph. If you look you can see the build-up of lead and carbon in almost all of the baffles.
The outside of the baffle stack is relatively clean and free of buildup. These baffles seal together very tightly.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/474a5287e07b3cbf421bf3e34f4fcce3.jpg"}[/IMG2]
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/5ddea198a2c6b19a6a5cfe80fc7cadaa.jpg"}[/IMG2]
I wanted to see how hard the carbon and lead buildup was. A hammer and punch were the appropriate tools. I chipped some of the lead off using a the small hammer and a small punch. Definitely not the way to go about cleaning a suppressor that is fouled in this manner. This causes chips of Lead to go everywhere, it is very labor-intensive, has the potential to damage the baffle itself and does not remove enough of the lead condensate to make it worth the time and effort
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/ed8ae0f72e09c61d48c4cde868db6930.jpg"}[/IMG2]
The blast chamber had a ring of material that had formed at the back of the blast baffle.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/0be08c9a295e60df2ccc91e3f1dd4350.jpg"}[/IMG2]
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/ca9608be73728a106da99b24124535b0.jpg"}[/IMG2]
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/28181253c5887408c6600f392644286d.jpg"}[/IMG2]
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/6e39458c6fe596e62f92c2730f0b1220.jpg"}[/IMG2]
10
This is one of the first baffles that I saw as I disassembled the Mask HD. When I saw it, my first thought was that the baffle was destroyed due to a baffle strike. In fact, when I showed this picture the other people their first responses were how did you break it?
It is fascinating to me that the lead and carbon would build up in such a way that the lead and carbon are molded into the shape of the cone of the baffle in front of it.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/5a38acb4ca0be70857485422eabbdca4.jpg"}[/IMG2]
If you look closely, this buildup follows the shape of the rear of the baffle cone ahead of it in the stack. The amazing thing is the suppressor never got noticeably louder as this build-up occurred.
I soaked the baffles for 16 hours in the peracetic acid solution aka the dip. You can see the amount of lead and carbon that came off of the baffles during this process. [IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/769b970dfc5ccc1f0ab0b53b5488b474.jpg"}[/IMG2]
In this photo, you can see the baffles soaking in the peracetic acid solution. This solution is known as the dip on the internet. After soaking, the lead and carbon that is built up on the baffle stack is change from a solid state to a liquid state and the peracetic acid solution becomes a highly toxic solution called lead acetate
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/f3ecd3e9557187b155d6cc5b69e69ce6.jpg"}[/IMG2]
The above photo you can see the amount of lead that has been liberated from it's solid state on the baffles and is now floating in the peracetic acid solution
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/3cb35fbafc7671fad532a6aa5876a19f.jpg"}[/IMG2]
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/493d177788b561ed1d43b4368dc1293e.jpg"}[/IMG2]
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/dd8267e98e85727857b6264db8308b94.jpg"}[/IMG2]
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/bcf52b2a9f38748a7914b97597ad3500.jpg"}[/IMG2]
Not all of the lead and carbon is liquefied. As it dissolves, chunks of it fall off of the baffles and are gathered in the bottom of the Mason jar
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/58734d998788bc22dbd5d517dcd46976.jpg"}[/IMG2]
The baffles look far different than they did 16 hours ago when they were placed in the peracetic acid (the Dip) solution. There is lead and carbon residue left on the baffles.
It is much softer than it was in it's dry and solid-state 16 hours ago.
After removing the baffles from the peracetic acid solution aka the dip, I rinsed then in fresh water, donned gloves ( I doubled up on the latex gloves) and used a small screwdriver to scrape most of the remaining deposits off of the baffles.
I did not take pictures of this part of the process. I did video tape it and you will see this step in the video
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/693025acf4a1a90254ea06a039ccc29b.jpg"}[/IMG2]
This left a slush solution on the baffle stack witch was removed by the Ultrasonic Cleaner. You will see this step in the video that I made of this process
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/c2e8eaf3162c65ae2260afad73fe9b00.jpg"}[/IMG2]
20
After a 16-hour bath of the dip, a rinsing wash, a run through the ultrasonic cleaner, and manual scraping, three baffles still had some deposits that would not come off.
It was time for another few hours in the dip.
These three baffles were dropped in the peracetic acid solution for another three hours and run through the ultrasonic cleaner again.
The dead air mask was reassembled and is almost as new
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/2bb1b86435e112979e5003ed5f0c876e.jpg"}[/IMG2]
3 baffles for 3 hours in the dip solution
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/b1a8549b69a5f7626ada69e5db7e937a.jpg"}[/IMG2]
The only downside to using the peracetic acid solution AKA The Dip is the fact that I now have a mason jar full of a highly toxic substance called lead acetate. The disposal requires some special precautions. You cannot just put this in the trash or dump it in the sewer.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/e2a18c4c0a5f3e6710dbb0fc254446d4.jpg"}[/IMG2]
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/e67a8416c41120c166c40e95bfb6fdcf.jpg"}[/IMG2]
These photos of the baffles show the difference that 24 hours, A long soak in the dip and some physical effort make. The mask is as new.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/b4462fd92a6500340692d58bdddac1fb.jpg"}[/IMG2]
Shiny and almost as clean as the day I opened the box! This was well worth the effort.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/a8199b8e7fa5a3bbcbb932c3bb9432b2.jpg"}[/IMG2]
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/c3db0179317af10b578a40dcbcc00d53.jpg"}[/IMG2]
I ran a tap though the endcap and chased the threads. I thought it was time to clean the carbon gunk out of them.
After everything was done, the issue of proper disposal of the Paracetic Acid/Lead mix aka Lead acetate solution must be addressed. If you live in Harris County, The Harris County Household Hazardous Waste Facility HCHHWF accepts and disposes of this type of household hazardous waste. It has limited hours for the public.
Every Wednesday: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Every 2nd Saturday of the month: 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
It is located at 6900 Hahl Road (290 and N Gessner) Houston, TX 77040
Phone: 281.560.6200
Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk
This particular Dead Air Mask HD has been used for over a year on multiple host weapons. There are probably over 5000 rounds through it. Its been used for demos with my www.Texasguntrust.com clients, raccoon hunting, my kids almost exclusively shoot the Dead Air Mask HD, whenever a friend wants to shoot, he generally gets this suppressor.
The build-up of lead and carbon is stunning if you have not seen it before.
The fact that the suppressor came apart with a few shakes after this many rounds and this much build-up is a testament to the Dead Air Design team of Mike Pappas, Gary Hughes and Todd Magee.
Once open, the baffles unsnapped and came apart into their individual pieces without any effort.
A couple of the baffles had so much build-up, that the build-up lookef like a damaged baffle. It took me a few seconds to realize that this wasn't a baffle strike that I was looking at, but the lead and carbon buildup that had molded itself into a mirror of the baffle ahead of it.
After a cursory inspection of the build-up on the baffles, It was obvious that the only way to remove the lead build up was with the peracetic acid solution commonly known as the dip. I prepared a solution of 50% white vinegar and 50% hydrogen peroxide in a mason jar.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/30c93b4c57034de02471b5161698ce66.jpg"}[/IMG2]
The Dead Air Mask HD's front cap opened up easily. I was able to push the complete baffle stack out by gently shaking the suppressor and lerting it slide out.
The fact that the entire baffle stack literally slid out after this many rounds is a testament to the design Genius of Mike Pappas and the Dead Air Mask HD engineering team.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/9a9230318af3d7292cfb5f33c645ae30.jpg"}[/IMG2]
One interesting fact that I failed to notice until looking at these photographs is the lack of buildup on the outside of the baffle stack. These baffles sealed together very tightly and did not allow leading carbon to build up between the baffle stack and the tube of the silencer.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/4af8a449c43d4cfdc629ad157c6e24f8.jpg"}[/IMG2]
All the baffles are laid out for this photograph. If you look you can see the build-up of lead and carbon in almost all of the baffles.
The outside of the baffle stack is relatively clean and free of buildup. These baffles seal together very tightly.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/474a5287e07b3cbf421bf3e34f4fcce3.jpg"}[/IMG2]
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/5ddea198a2c6b19a6a5cfe80fc7cadaa.jpg"}[/IMG2]
I wanted to see how hard the carbon and lead buildup was. A hammer and punch were the appropriate tools. I chipped some of the lead off using a the small hammer and a small punch. Definitely not the way to go about cleaning a suppressor that is fouled in this manner. This causes chips of Lead to go everywhere, it is very labor-intensive, has the potential to damage the baffle itself and does not remove enough of the lead condensate to make it worth the time and effort
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/ed8ae0f72e09c61d48c4cde868db6930.jpg"}[/IMG2]
The blast chamber had a ring of material that had formed at the back of the blast baffle.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/0be08c9a295e60df2ccc91e3f1dd4350.jpg"}[/IMG2]
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/ca9608be73728a106da99b24124535b0.jpg"}[/IMG2]
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/28181253c5887408c6600f392644286d.jpg"}[/IMG2]
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/6e39458c6fe596e62f92c2730f0b1220.jpg"}[/IMG2]
10
This is one of the first baffles that I saw as I disassembled the Mask HD. When I saw it, my first thought was that the baffle was destroyed due to a baffle strike. In fact, when I showed this picture the other people their first responses were how did you break it?
It is fascinating to me that the lead and carbon would build up in such a way that the lead and carbon are molded into the shape of the cone of the baffle in front of it.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/5a38acb4ca0be70857485422eabbdca4.jpg"}[/IMG2]
If you look closely, this buildup follows the shape of the rear of the baffle cone ahead of it in the stack. The amazing thing is the suppressor never got noticeably louder as this build-up occurred.
I soaked the baffles for 16 hours in the peracetic acid solution aka the dip. You can see the amount of lead and carbon that came off of the baffles during this process. [IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/769b970dfc5ccc1f0ab0b53b5488b474.jpg"}[/IMG2]
In this photo, you can see the baffles soaking in the peracetic acid solution. This solution is known as the dip on the internet. After soaking, the lead and carbon that is built up on the baffle stack is change from a solid state to a liquid state and the peracetic acid solution becomes a highly toxic solution called lead acetate
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/f3ecd3e9557187b155d6cc5b69e69ce6.jpg"}[/IMG2]
The above photo you can see the amount of lead that has been liberated from it's solid state on the baffles and is now floating in the peracetic acid solution
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/3cb35fbafc7671fad532a6aa5876a19f.jpg"}[/IMG2]
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/493d177788b561ed1d43b4368dc1293e.jpg"}[/IMG2]
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/dd8267e98e85727857b6264db8308b94.jpg"}[/IMG2]
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/bcf52b2a9f38748a7914b97597ad3500.jpg"}[/IMG2]
Not all of the lead and carbon is liquefied. As it dissolves, chunks of it fall off of the baffles and are gathered in the bottom of the Mason jar
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/58734d998788bc22dbd5d517dcd46976.jpg"}[/IMG2]
The baffles look far different than they did 16 hours ago when they were placed in the peracetic acid (the Dip) solution. There is lead and carbon residue left on the baffles.
It is much softer than it was in it's dry and solid-state 16 hours ago.
After removing the baffles from the peracetic acid solution aka the dip, I rinsed then in fresh water, donned gloves ( I doubled up on the latex gloves) and used a small screwdriver to scrape most of the remaining deposits off of the baffles.
I did not take pictures of this part of the process. I did video tape it and you will see this step in the video
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/693025acf4a1a90254ea06a039ccc29b.jpg"}[/IMG2]
This left a slush solution on the baffle stack witch was removed by the Ultrasonic Cleaner. You will see this step in the video that I made of this process
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/c2e8eaf3162c65ae2260afad73fe9b00.jpg"}[/IMG2]
20
After a 16-hour bath of the dip, a rinsing wash, a run through the ultrasonic cleaner, and manual scraping, three baffles still had some deposits that would not come off.
It was time for another few hours in the dip.
These three baffles were dropped in the peracetic acid solution for another three hours and run through the ultrasonic cleaner again.
The dead air mask was reassembled and is almost as new
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/2bb1b86435e112979e5003ed5f0c876e.jpg"}[/IMG2]
3 baffles for 3 hours in the dip solution
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/b1a8549b69a5f7626ada69e5db7e937a.jpg"}[/IMG2]
The only downside to using the peracetic acid solution AKA The Dip is the fact that I now have a mason jar full of a highly toxic substance called lead acetate. The disposal requires some special precautions. You cannot just put this in the trash or dump it in the sewer.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/e2a18c4c0a5f3e6710dbb0fc254446d4.jpg"}[/IMG2]
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/e67a8416c41120c166c40e95bfb6fdcf.jpg"}[/IMG2]
These photos of the baffles show the difference that 24 hours, A long soak in the dip and some physical effort make. The mask is as new.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/b4462fd92a6500340692d58bdddac1fb.jpg"}[/IMG2]
Shiny and almost as clean as the day I opened the box! This was well worth the effort.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/a8199b8e7fa5a3bbcbb932c3bb9432b2.jpg"}[/IMG2]
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com\/20170926\/c3db0179317af10b578a40dcbcc00d53.jpg"}[/IMG2]
I ran a tap though the endcap and chased the threads. I thought it was time to clean the carbon gunk out of them.
After everything was done, the issue of proper disposal of the Paracetic Acid/Lead mix aka Lead acetate solution must be addressed. If you live in Harris County, The Harris County Household Hazardous Waste Facility HCHHWF accepts and disposes of this type of household hazardous waste. It has limited hours for the public.
Every Wednesday: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Every 2nd Saturday of the month: 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
It is located at 6900 Hahl Road (290 and N Gessner) Houston, TX 77040
Phone: 281.560.6200
Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk
Last edited:
