[Don Lu]

Is a brass Brush safe to use one the Ti cylinder of the S&W 520 (new model)?? having a very hard time getting black off of the sides of cylander using nylon brush and CLP.

[steveracer]

Yes. You can use a brass brush in Ti cylinders

[Don Lu]

Thanks...I was starting to get frustrated, but if it is safe im sure the brass brush will get black off !

[steveracer]

Those are burn marks, mate. Your Ti cylinder will have them on there basically forever. You can polish them off, but they will be back as soon as you shoot it again. In reality, the cylinder face should not be polished too much, because the cylinder-to-forcing cone gap will suffer, and you'll eventually have flame cutting.
The best bet is to clean off the powder residue, and leave it alone. If no more black shows up on your rag, it's clean enough. If you really can't stand it, have the cylinder treated with black Ceracoat or similar. This will hide the marks, and your cylinder will finally match your pistol, sort of.
BTW: I love the 520. I think it is the nicest 4" revolver to shoot/carry.

[Don Lu]

Thanks for that info, I will look further into that ceracoat treatment. I love my 520 and I like her to look as good as she shoots.

[Old Fuff]

I would double-check with Smith & Wesson on correct cleaning methods. At one time they recommended not using brass cleaning brushes. This is one reason I avoid revolvers with Titanium cylinders.

[Don Lu]

ok, fuff....thanks.

[JoeHatley]

I use bronze bore brushes on the inside of my Ti cylinder, but not on the outside. Anything on the outside that doesn't come off with nylon brush and a little Hoppe's #9, gets to stay.

Agressive cleaning will remove the clear coat.

Joe

[Don Lu]

I have used a bronze brush and CLP on the outside of cylinder twice....Do you think that would be enough to have damaged the outside of the cylinder. I wont do it any more, just hope I havent messed it up already.:uhoh:

[Old Fuff]

I wouldn't worry until you talk it over with the folks at Smith & Wesson's customer service department. They should know all of the do's and not do's.

I think that you can go to the company website (www.smith_wesson.com) and download a manual for your gun in .pdf format. It very likely has instructions for cleaning.

[JNewell]

I am pretty sure the original and current instructions for the Ti cylinders say bronze brushes are ok - the instructions said that normal procedures and solvents are OK. What is "banned" is abrasive products (Scotch-brite pads are specifically cited).

[Don Lu]

I checked the manual...it doesnt give any advice against bronze brushes specifically, but the bronze brush did not take the black off, soo its not worth the risk, ill stick to the nylon brushes and call the black........."beauty marks"