Cleaning carbon build up

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MoreIsLess

MoreIsLess

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I have a Ruger Security Six, stainless. I get a lot of carbon build up on the surface of the cylinder. I've tried about every king of cleaner/solvent and can't get it to come off. I've tried soaking it in solvent overnight as well to no avail.

Any suggestions?
 
What WEG said. Also, not all solvents are equal.. some focus/target lead.. it goes on. I've never really had a problem but I'm sure someone will provide you some good info
Also, a little black never hurt nothing unless it's actually built up enough to bind things up.
 
If you're referring to the carbon scoring on the cylinder face, leave it alone. You can potentially do more harm than good trying to remove it. It won't hurt anything and will be right back there next time you shoot it.


removes all the blemishes - not just the lead
Click to expand...
It also removes metal. Long term use will alter dimensions and for no good reason.
 
I just soak the cylinder face in a little BreakFree Carbon Cutter for a day or so. It softens the carbon and it brushes right off with a nylon brush. Can't hurt your gun.
 
I just scrub mine down with Hoppes #9 til the patches aren't black anymore....anything else can stay there. Shows my gun is well loved and put to good use.
 
Don't try to keep the front of the cylinder "like new". If there is some that won't come off with a rag or plastic brush, forget about it. Breakfree has a really good bore solvent with carbon cutter that takes 95% of it off. If you're gonna shoot it, it's gonna get funky.:scrutiny:
 
I use an ultrasonic cleaner and it works great. I did use flitz once with a q-tip before I thought of using the ultrasonic. It might take the ultrasonic 5-6 cycles to get it all off and or loosened up but it will get the job done.
 
I've had good results removing unwanted carbon rings on stainless guns using either a lead removal cloth or a little Flitz polish on a cotton patch.

Be careful of using the Flitz though. No, it won't hurt your gun, but using it to polish your stainless gun to a nickel-like mirror shine can be addicting. :)

Lou
 
i had some pretty heavy build up on my SP101......a little bit of lighter fluid took it right off
 
True, but so what? It's marketed as a bore paste, and has been used for years and years as such. If it's not destroying rifling I don't think that rubbing down the exterior of the cylinder till clean is going to cause any measurable wear.
 
If you say so. I'm not rubbing my cylinders with an abrasive of any kind every time I shoot. Regardless of marketing hype, it WILL remove metal and in time it WILL alter dimensions. All for absolutely, positively no good reason.
 
That's why I suggested Lead-Away cloth above. It removes the Carbon but leaves the steel.
Click to expand...
The lead removal cloths are also abrasive. If it removes bluing mechanically, it's also removing steel. I performed a little test, where I took a 400grit brushed finish down to a fine bright polish in only a matter of minutes. It is abrasive and I wouldn't use it.
 
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