Removing Carbon Fouling on Stainless 686 Cylinder

[diveRN]

A friend of mine was looking to unload a few guns so I picked up this gently used 686-3 6" for a good price. I have a pretty sizable collection of guns, but this is my only stainless one.

It's not a safe queen and it has obviously been fired, but what can be done to remove the carbon fouling on the cylinder without scratching the stainless? I tried letting various solvents like Hoppes and Ballistol sit on it for a while, nothing. Even took a little Flitz on a cotton rag to see if it would polish off, nada. I have a brass wire wheel on my grinder, but I'm reluctant to try it in fear of scratching/dulling it. I suppose that the softer brass and a light touch against the wheel COULD work without damage, but I'm looking for other ideas before I go there.

If it doesn't come off, I'm not going to lose sleep over it. Suggestions?

[M76]

I’ve used a brass brush and clp with success, takes a bit of elbow grease
if the fouling is caked on; let the clp soak on the rings, then scrub mildly.

you can also use clenzoil, hoppes, etc.

[Featureless]

Try this

https://www.amazon.com/Pro-Shot-Gun-Care-Cleaning/dp/B001F0I8EO

[ar15barrels]

gm top cylinder cleaner or Slip 2000 Carbon Killer.
Soak it in it overnight and it will take carbon off.

[Madpyro]

Kleenbore lead away cloth will take it right off.

[fishn395]

Birchwood Casey Lead remover cloth...works fantasticly

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[geedavell]

Birchwood Casey Lead remover cloth...works fantasticly

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Bingo!

[nstoolman1]

Transmission fluid is know to remove carbon. A little on a brush and scub gently. To hard and the bristles throw the fluid all over. If you are wearing a smock or clothing protector knock yourself out.

[Red9]

Flitz works wonders.

Sent from my T790W using Tapatalk

[1911su16b870]

My new favorite - have to have this in my cleaning kit - is the sand-flex fine sand-block.

Also good are the guitar fret polishing blocks.

[RandyD]

I have owned a 686 since 1986 and I hate those carbon rings. I have tried every product to remove them. If you don't mind your handgun getting a polished look, Mothers Mag and Aluminum Polish does a good job, and you can find it at any auto parts store.

Recently, I have switched to CLR (Calcium, Lime, and Rust Remover) because it seems to easily dissolve the carbon and requires very little elbow grease. This can be found in grocery and hardware stores, and it is one of the cheapest products for removing carbon.

I recently soaked my entire revolver in CLR and it softened all of the carbon in the small crevices and the front of the cylinder. The carbon was easily removed with a toothbrush. I did not do a good enough job of flushing the CLR from the action, and it left the action gummy. If you use CLR ensure you flush your action thoroughly and reapply oil where required. I use carbon cleaner to flush my actions.

[SharedShots]

Iosso.

Or as you said, just a decent cleaning and don't worry about it. If you're going to use it, Nothing wrong with a gun that looks like its been shot. Just regular maintenance will keep it from building up and interfering with cylinder function.

Plenty of shooters with blued or dark finished guns never even notice it and just general cleaning does it otherwise they wear off the finish and that looks worse.













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[Rogue187]

See if you can find this gun cleaning product called Lead-Away.

Kleenbore Lead-Away

[b1gdave32]

https://www.boretech.com/products/c4-carbon-remover

[hermosabeach]

Winner

Birchwood Casey Lead remover cloth...works fantasticly

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Op

This it absolutely the correct product


They also are the best way to remove lead from the forcing cone

Cut them the size of a patch. They will remove lead from the barrel too




Birchwood Casey 31002 Lead Remover and Polishing Cloth, 6-Inch x 9-Inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AU67BEM...A50956VNWH19TG

If anyone has a mossberg 930, also easiest way to remove carbon from gas system too