Cleaning stainless steel and aluminum revolvers

[SKL]

2 questions. 1) I have a new stainless steel revolver. I've cleaned the front of the cylinder with Hoppes and a bronze brush and it comes very clean. Will doing this repeatedly harm the surface? 2) I have an aluminum revolver (including the cylinder) with a matt finish that I haven't fired yet. Aluminum is softer than stainless (I think). What is the safest way to clean the front of this cylinder without changing the finish?

 

[rcmodel]

No, a bronze bore brush cannot possibly harm a S/S revolver.

Your alloy (S&W?) is another matter.

They are using a clear-coat paint finish over the color on the frame & cylinder.
So, any abrasive, or strong solvent can harm the clear-coat finish.

I would suggest nothing stronger then CLP solvent, and a soft cotton patch or cloth to clean the finish on that.

Bore & cylinder chamber cleaning can safely be done with a bronze brush & patches & solvent though.

rc

 

[beag_nut]

Again, for the umpteenth time, what rcmodel said, is correct.

 

[Schwing]

I have several stainless steel revolvers and rifles that I have cleaned with copper and bronze brushes for a very long time... They look like they just came out of the box. I am nearly OCD about keeping them shiny so they get cleaned sometimes several times a week. I also use copper chore boys (these are the copper scrub pads you buy for dishes). Just make sure they are the real chore boys as knock offs can be made of steel and copper plated. I find them really handy for getting carbon and other gunk off of rounded surfaces.

 

[rcmodel]

A Lead-Away cloth goes a long way on S/S guns.
Much better then Chore-Boy pads IMO.

http://store.safariland.com/kleen-bore/product174.html

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/591584/kleen-bore-lead-away-gun-cleaning-cloth

rc

 

[SKL]

I was referring to a bronze tooth brush style brush to clean the front surface of the cylinder on the stainless steel gun. As for the aluminum revolver, if I use Hoppes no 9 to clean the bore and cylinder it will definitely get on the other parts of the gun. Also, what should be used to clean the black deposit off the front of the aluminum cylinder? I'm sure that CLP won't remove that. Thanks for the reply.
SKL