A new miracle cleaning tool for C&B revolvers?

[BCRider]

I'm not sure if I've re-invented the wheel or if I've truly come up with a new "better mousetrap". But here goes.

Next time you're cleaning your cylinder chambers on your C&B wheelgun try a bundle of 3 or 4 pipe cleaners folded into a U shape.

I just finished up cleaning my '58 Uberti Remingtons from the weekend's CAS shoot. Simply way to tired to do it last night once the shotgun and rifle were done. For some reason I got the idea to try a bundle of pipe cleaners folded in half to work the grunge out of the cylinders. Well... it worked out SUPERBLY! ! ! ! In a few twists of the wrist and two times around the clock with a rinse in between and the chambers were clean as a whistle!

THis is a far cry from the dozen or more cleaning patches and wrestling with my "eye of the needle" cleaning holder to get the job done. And the job was done is easily less than half the time.

The bundle also made for an easy to reach in scrubbing tool for the frame. The U brushes easily got up into all the nooks and crannies of the action cutaways on the inside of the frame where the hand and hammer normally live.

So is this a first as far as you all know? Or is my EUREKA moment simply another case of rotary bearing re-inventing?

For the record the pipe cleaners were some cheapies I got off Ebay that have the coarse bristles as well as finer fibers. The coarse bristles are likely doing most of the cleaning as well as supporting the wire from dragging on the metal. So I strongly suggest that style if you want to try this out.

I know that all the fancy ideas for custom made chamber cleaning jags just went right out the window. It's PIPE CLEANERS for me from here on in...

 

[zimmerstutzen]

I drop the cylinder into a can of WW2 bore cleaner. Stinks to high heaven, but it works great. Then I use a 410 brush with cleaning patch wrapped around it. Swirl in the bore cleaner again, finished.

 

[mykeal]

I've done that, and it does work really well, but you run out of pipe cleaners pretty quick.

To be honest, I've had pretty good results with just flushing them out with running water. Which isn't always readily available, of course.

You're right that the 'thread the needle' patch holder is the worst option. My compromise, when 1) short of pipe cleaners, and 2) without running water - which is pretty much most of the time - is to use a .44 cal (or .35 cal) cleaning jag. You can make one by turning down a .45 (or .36).

 

[arcticap]

I use a craft stick or Popsicle stick that's wrapped with a cotton patch.
It fits into the chamber and works well enough.

 

[BCRider]

Zimmerstutzen, the bore brush doesn't reach back and do the rear wall at all.

Mykeal, I always have SOME black grunge that won't simply wash away. Despite a half dozen dunkings and shaking out the patches always came out really dirty for a while. This is why I'm so stoked on this quick n' easy pipe cleaner trick.

I got something like 1000 pipe cleaners for $15 some time back. I used the same four cleaners to do both of my Remmy cylinders and action areas. For the 6 cents worth of pipe cleaners the time I saved seemed like a GREAT deal....

Now if this gets to be too pricey for me I may have to invest in the Pedersoli Turbo Cleaner....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMJkDmsf3j8

Or perhaps get or make up similar wand attachments for my 7.5HP gas powered driveway and patio pressure cleaner...

 

[BCRider]

Articap, I "discovered" the popsicle stick trick some time back. For some reason I reached for the pipe cleaners this time. It's even EASIER than the popsicle stick trick.

 

[Hellgate]

I think I have a bag of brightly colored pipe cleaners I bought at a "dollar shop". Now ya got me ta thinkin'. I'll give it a whirl since I don't have any popsicle sticks (another good idea).

 

[BCRider]

Hellgate, when you try it make the bend at the end a little on the open side. Just enough that it sweeps the corners in the end of the chambers. And leave the sides a little bowed out so they scrub on their own for ya.

And be sure to post back on how you find this idea works out for you. I'm all a'giggle with it. But then I may be a little biased....

 

[Hellgate]

It's gonna be about a week before I go to any shoots. I hope I remember. I suffer fron CRS like many of my friends.

 

[Busyhands94]

I find the same thing works well for barrels too. Just twist a bunch of pipe cleaners together and get the thing wet, you can swab the bore easily even at the range. Of course I get my pipe cleaners at the dollar store, so they are cheap. I have been tempted to use some of my Dill's bristle pipe cleaners, only problem is I run out and I need them to swab my pipe, wet smoke is bad.

For Christmas my father gave me a .44 and .45 cleaning kit with some brushes, jags, and solvent. I find that a bronze or nylon brush will work great for cleaning revolver cylinders, you can even scrub the inside of the frame with it too, just get it wet! There's a soft cotton bore swab (I'm not sure what the technical term is) that is good for putting oil on the internal surfaces like the bore and in the cylinder. I usually do a very light coating in the inside of the cylinder, wipe it off, then reload.

I've also found that Q-tips are great, real time saver. Just put some spit on the end and you can wipe the back of the cylinder and in the nooks and crannies.

hope that is of some help to someone!

~Levi

 

[Foto Joe]

Good idea with the pipe cleaners. Personally I swiped a nipple brush from somewhere and use that with great success.

Since we're all basically lazy we tend to find what works for our own little battles when it comes to bathing our little friends.

 

[wittzo]

A couple of months ago I found some really neat pipe cleaners at Walgreens, in fact they were the only pipe cleaners they had behind the counter. Bryn Maur Ream-N-Klean. They're regular cotton pipe cleaners, but they have short lengths of monofilament woven with the cotton, so they're very abrasive to dirt, but won't hurt the finish. I can't remember how much they cost.

 

[kBob]

SO I read this first thing this AM and then strolled out in the kitchen where I saw the detritus of the kids' war of last evening. I saw the Nerf (TM) dart on the floor and the pink cap pistol holster was on the edge of the table. I immediatey thought of the Nerf (TM) dart as a chamber cleaner for .44s and as the Remington case was nearest tried it in a NMA cylinder.....and there was the '63 so I went back for the pink holster for the picture.

The dart is a snug fit that needs to be sort of snugged in and the end does bottom out. The cylinder was clean so I can not say if it works better than pipe cleaners. I have used a chamber mop of cotton this being what they are for with modern cartridge revolvers.

Oh, come on! The Holster is cute!

-kBob

 

[Hellgate]

Kbob,
The holster really WAS cute. You oughta see the lunch pail I take to shoots that was absconded from my daughters: a baby blue plastic "My Little Pony" lunch pail. It was announced at one shoot that I must be secure in my manhood. It helps to be heavily armed too.

 

[BCRider]

LOL...

kbob, I double dog dare ya to wear that holster out to the next shoot....