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Author Topic: Cleaning Carbon Rings from Cylinder Faces  (Read 1982 times)

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Offline Bergmen

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Cleaning Carbon Rings from Cylinder Faces
« on: April 16, 2012, 02:27:24 PM »
I did a search and couldn't find anything. My FA Model 83 is my first all stainless revolver and I would like to clean the front face of the cylinder but have been advised not to because of potential damage. My thought was to use a small amount of Brasso and be gentle.
 
Any opinions on this?
 
Dan
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Offline Graybeard

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Re: Cleaning Carbon Rings from Cylinder Faces
« Reply #1 on: April 16, 2012, 06:24:05 PM »
Why?

I've never been a real neat freak and just can't see any reason to do more work than I need to either. OK I'm lazy.

I can't say that I've ever been able to make a cylinder face look new again once it has been fired a few times but I truly don't make much effort at it. I use 0000 steel wool and Hoppe's #9 to remove built up carbon but once it's smooth and basically carbon free I sure don't worry about the stains left.
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Offline Lloyd Smale

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Re: Cleaning Carbon Rings from Cylinder Faces
« Reply #2 on: April 16, 2012, 11:48:08 PM »
Im with bill. I dont worry about it.
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Offline Ken ONeill

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Re: Cleaning Carbon Rings from Cylinder Faces
« Reply #3 on: April 17, 2012, 12:31:53 AM »
I've been using a Lead Away cloth on cylinder FACES of stainless revolvers, and inside the frame window as necessary since 1979, and on FA revolvers since my first one in 1990. I don't get carried away with it, like trying for complete removal, and NEVER use it inside chamber mouths, since it is abrasive and will remove metal. Don't use anything other than your hand to drive the cloth -  no drills, for example. Don't use these cloths on blued guns, as they will remove blueing.

Be careful and sensible, and it works safely and fine.
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Offline Bergmen

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Re: Cleaning Carbon Rings from Cylinder Faces
« Reply #4 on: April 17, 2012, 06:10:05 AM »
Quote from: Graybeard on April 16, 2012, 06:24:05 PM
Why?

I've never been a real neat freak and just can't see any reason to do more work than I need to either. OK I'm lazy.

I can't say that I've ever been able to make a cylinder face look new again once it has been fired a few times but I truly don't make much effort at it. I use 0000 steel wool and Hoppe's #9 to remove built up carbon but once it's smooth and basically carbon free I sure don't worry about the stains left.

Yeah, I was just wanting to clean the build-up, not make it look new again. The circular rings are going to be there, I just wanted the surface clean since there is such a tight clearance between the cylinder and barrel.
 
Thanks for you method, I will give it a try. BTW, I do love this revolver! Wow!
 

 
Dan
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Offline Bergmen

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Re: Cleaning Carbon Rings from Cylinder Faces
« Reply #5 on: April 17, 2012, 06:14:00 AM »
Quote from: Ken ONeill on April 17, 2012, 12:31:53 AM
I've been using a Lead Away cloth on cylinder FACES of stainless revolvers, and inside the frame window as necessary since 1979, and on FA revolvers since my first one in 1990. I don't get carried away with it, like trying for complete removal, and NEVER use it inside chamber mouths, since it is abrasive and will remove metal. Don't use anything other than your hand to drive the cloth -  no drills, for example. Don't use these cloths on blued guns, as they will remove blueing.

Be careful and sensible, and it works safely and fine.

Thanks, Ken, I have read of this method from other experts as well. I have never used a Lead Away cloth before but I should get one for the cleaning bench. I always just use gentle elbow grease on my firearms, never power tools (unless it is for trimming brass).
 
Dan
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Offline mk454

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Re: Cleaning Carbon Rings from Cylinder Faces
« Reply #6 on: April 17, 2012, 08:24:37 AM »
when i care, which i usually don't, i use a patch with just a lil' jb bore paste and rub gently and it usually removes it.
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Offline tatonka

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Re: Cleaning Carbon Rings from Cylinder Faces
« Reply #7 on: April 22, 2012, 05:37:06 PM »
I used to use a RIG lead away cloth but now use Flitz polish if I feel a need to spend more time polishing than shooting. I really don't care how they look but how they shoot. The only time I polish up the cylinder face is when I am ready to sell a SS revolver. Some shooters like to see a "like new" appearance. Most firearms are sold based on how they look anyway are they not? Good shooting!
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Offline pmurphy

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Re: Cleaning Carbon Rings from Cylinder Faces
« Reply #8 on: April 25, 2012, 01:50:22 PM »
John, at FA told me not to use the lead removal cloth.  He thinks that it wears away the face of the cylinder.  I now use Carbon Killer.  Just soak the cylinder in the fluid and brush with a tooth brush.  BTW, pour the fuils back in the container and re-use.  It's great for AR bolts, as well.
 
Phil
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Offline Steve P

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Re: Cleaning Carbon Rings from Cylinder Faces
« Reply #9 on: April 26, 2012, 06:20:00 AM »
If you wanted a purty gun, why did you spend so much money?  You can get purty guns real cheap and they wipe clean with tissue paper.  You can shine them and polish them all you want and they can't hardly shoot worse than when purchased new.  Real Purty tho...... ::)
 
My FA's are shooters.  They get cleaned when accuracy or reliability begins to deteriorate, not before.  I didn't buy them for purty, I bought them because they SHOOT and GET DIRTY doing what they were made to do!!
 
I'll trade you a purty gun for that FA.  I won't mind the ring around the cylinder one bit.  The FA will love me for it!!   ;D
 
Steve  :)
 
aka FA shooter, not shiner......  8)
 
 
 
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Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: Cleaning Carbon Rings from Cylinder Faces
« Reply #10 on: April 26, 2012, 06:24:53 AM »
I think its birchwood casey that makes a cloth that has chemical on it . It woks really well , I have been using them for years, I have not seen it wear away anything. It will how ever dry out with use and need to be replaced .
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Offline Bergmen

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Re: Cleaning Carbon Rings from Cylinder Faces
« Reply #11 on: April 26, 2012, 06:41:51 AM »
Quote from: Steve P on April 26, 2012, 06:20:00 AM
If you wanted a purty gun, why did you spend so much money?  You can get purty guns real cheap and they wipe clean with tissue paper.  You can shine them and polish them all you want and they can't hardly shoot worse than when purchased new.  Real Purty tho...... ::)
 
My FA's are shooters.  They get cleaned when accuracy or reliability begins to deteriorate, not before.  I didn't buy them for purty, I bought them because they SHOOT and GET DIRTY doing what they were made to do!!
 
I'll trade you a purty gun for that FA.  I won't mind the ring around the cylinder one bit.  The FA will love me for it!!   ;D
 
Steve  :)
 
aka FA shooter, not shiner......  8)

My intent is to "clean" the surface for proper function without damage, not looks. With less than .001 cylinder to barrel gap with the .45 Colt cylinder installed, it doesn't take much powder residue to adversely affect proper function.
 
My photo above shows the revolver right after I received it from FA, I didn't clean it to look like that.
 
I don't know where you got the idea I was trying to make it look "purty".
 
Dan
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Offline new_guy

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Re: Cleaning Carbon Rings from Cylinder Faces
« Reply #12 on: May 01, 2012, 10:11:33 AM »
I use an ultrasonic cleaner.  It will remove all carbon without any wear from friction/scrubbing.

They are worth the money... you'll use one more than you think after you have it.
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Offline Bergmen

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Re: Cleaning Carbon Rings from Cylinder Faces
« Reply #13 on: May 01, 2012, 10:30:45 AM »
Quote from: new_guy on May 01, 2012, 10:11:33 AM
I use an ultrasonic cleaner.  It will remove all carbon without any wear from friction/scrubbing.

They are worth the money... you'll use one more than you think after you have it.

I have been considering one for a number of reasons for some time. What unit do you have and would you recommend it?
 
Dan
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Offline new_guy

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Re: Cleaning Carbon Rings from Cylinder Faces
« Reply #14 on: May 02, 2012, 10:56:11 AM »
I have a Crest brand.  There are some cheaper ones available, but the Crest has served me well for 5+ years.  They seem to have a very good reputation.

Here is the face of the cylinder after US cleaning.
 
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Offline Bergmen

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Re: Cleaning Carbon Rings from Cylinder Faces
« Reply #15 on: May 02, 2012, 12:06:52 PM »
Quote from: new_guy on May 02, 2012, 10:56:11 AM
I have a Crest brand.  There are some cheaper ones available, but the Crest has served me well for 5+ years.  They seem to have a very good reputation.

Here is the face of the cylinder after US cleaning.
 


Outstanding, thank you! Beautiful handgun you have there.
 
Dan
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Offline Cleburne

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Re: Cleaning Carbon Rings from Cylinder Faces
« Reply #16 on: May 02, 2012, 01:49:41 PM »
I had a stainless Bisley Vaquero a couple years ago. Although not a stickler for removing the carbon, I discovered by accident that after I shot the gun for the first time with smokeless rounds, subsequent blackpowder rounds removed ALL traces of the smokeless fouling!  :)
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Offline Coal Dragger

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Re: Cleaning Carbon Rings from Cylinder Faces
« Reply #17 on: August 06, 2012, 11:29:30 AM »
I use a Lyman ultrasonic cleaner with their steel cleaning solution to clean the cylinder on my FA, and it works quite well especially after the solution has had time to warm up. That cleaner is some of the best money I have spent on gun related accessories in a long long time.
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