Cleaning a Stainless Steel gun

[bruceflinch]

A couple weeks ago, there was a thread from someone asking how to get the crud off their GP100. He didn't say whether it was stainless or not.

Here's a before & after pic of my SW686. Time lapse between the photos is only a couple of minutes. Yeah the barrel & cylinder is still dirty. But just wiping the gun down w/ the cleaning cloth & then just rubbing with a clean soft cloth, really shines it up!

Before:


After:

[checkenbach]

Nice!!!. How does one go about getting the black burnt powder spooge off of the front of the cylinder??? I bought a 686 that has a lot of buildup, should I get a bonze brush and powder solvent and get with it?????

[bruceflinch]

Nice!!!. How does one go about getting the black burnt powder spooge off of the front of the cylinder??? I bought a 686 that has a lot of buildup, should I get a bonze brush and powder solvent and get with it?????

That buildup is tough to remove! I cut a strip of the lead cleaning cloth. Then use a 1/2" square block of wood w/ the cloth wrapped around it. Then rub the face of the cylinder like a sanding block. The face of most SS cylinders is not shiny as the rest of the cylinder, YMMV!

[BigDogatPlay]

I knew guys who would field strip their stainless S&W autos and toss the barrel, slide, mainspring, rod and bushing into the dishwasher.... not what I'd choose, but there it is.

[Interloper]

Dang that's a nice pistol.
You can't find it just anywhere but I've become a huge fan of bronze wool. Works on both blued and stainless without damaging the finish. All I know about stainless is, stay away from anything containing chlorine. It will stain the surface.
I don't think I would put my KGP-101 in the dishwasher, either. Last thing I want to do is give the kids lead poisoning.

[RandyD]

That buildup is tough to remove! I cut a strip of the lead cleaning cloth. Then use a 1/2" square block of wood w/ the cloth wrapped around it. Then rub the face of the cylinder like a sanding block. The face of most SS cylinders is not shiny as the rest of the cylinder, YMMV!

For more than 25 years, I have used a Scott Bright Heavy Duty Scour Pad with any cleaning solvent including water to remove the caked on crud on the front of stainless steel cylinders.

[checkenbach]

Cool, I'll try the De-Lead cloth first, I've also got scotchbright(grey and green) in case the cloth doesn't cut it.

[bruceflinch]

For more than 25 years, I have used a Scott Bright Heavy Duty Scour Pad with any cleaning solvent including water to remove the caked on crud on the front of stainless steel cylinders.

I'll thank Heloise for giving you that tip! Good idea.

I'll have to sneak one out the Kitchen, & get Wifey a new box of them for Christmas!

[Interloper]

I'll thank Heloise for giving you that tip! Good idea.

I'll have to sneak one out the Kitchen, & get Wifey a new box of them for Christmas!

That's very thoughtful of you. What did she get for her birthday? Vacuum bags?

[Mail Clerk]

Cool, I'll try the De-Lead cloth first, I've also got scotchbright(grey and green) in case the cloth doesn't cut it.

checkenbach,

The "lead-cloths" work fantastic and I usually just use my thumb and nail to clean the front of my cylinders. In reality they don't tke long to clean them.

Mail Clerk

[bruceflinch]

That's very thoughtful of you. What did she get for her birthday? Vacuum bags?

Those & a new Mop!

After 20 yrs, she has everything else she needs...

[JAGACIDA]

I use a big gum eraser on my 629 and 686. Rubs it clean and looking like new.

[checkenbach]

I cleaned both 686's today and used the grey Scotchbrite and Hoppes, and both look like NEW!!!!!!!!!!! Both cylinders look unfired(on the dicharge end, anyways).
The grey stuff is the nometallic equal of 0000 steel wool, available at Lowes.