Cleaning cylinder face on blued gun

R

Rogervzv

New member
Please forgive me if this is a banal thread.

I have numerous blued revolvers and I really don't know a good way to clean the crud off of the cylinder face. Obviously a "lead away" cloth is out of the question as this will remove the bluing. These cloths work great on a stainless revolver.

Similarly, a brass brush, Hoppe's 9, and elbow grease will clean the cylinder face of a stainless revolver, but I would be afraid to try this on a blued gun for fear of damaging the bluing.

Right now I use a cloth soaked in Hoppe's 9 bore cleaner to try to dissolve the powder on the cylinder front, but I have no real belief that this does much good.

What is the consensus? Do we just live with the caked front cylinder? Or am I missing "the secret"?
 
What is the consensus? Do we just live with the caked front cylinder?
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Yes. Once you have enough revolvers, you will stop being concerned about the carbon rings left on the surface of the cylinder.

Or, you could try shooting Black Powder, which does not leave carbon rings on the cylinder.
 
For cleaning my blued revolvers I use a GI toothbrush with nylon bristles. I soak the cylinder face down in a bowl containing Hoppes® No 9 for about an hour. With some elbow grease the carbon comes off, and it DOES NOT HARM THE BLUING on the cylinder or anywhere else on the gun(s)...
 
As you are cognizant that the Lead Away cloth is no friend to the bluing, I think you may find that Hoppes#9 is no great solvent to use either if the bluing is a concern. I have found bluing loss from using Hoppes#9 so I am careful where and how I will use it when it's near bluing.

LOVE my handguns and I use almost all of them in a nice, regular rotation so they all get shot and dirty. But the hardcore spiffy cleaning is more something I -USED- to do, years back before I shot so much. And the front of the cylinder is definitely a place where I do not spend time scrubbing.
 
I just use what ever powder solvent Im using (these days, its Hoppes) to clean the gun, and a bronze or stainless brush. I clean around the barrel in the frame the same way.

Been doing it as far back as I can remember, and its never hurt the finish on any of my blued guns.

It usually doesnt take much effort, and I dont go crazy with it either.
 
The gun cleaning mania shows an underlying disconnect with, and fear of, the elements of fire and brimstone that are the physical and spiritual basis of the non-socially subjugated animus of the firearm.
 
I've learned to let it soak in solvent/cleaner well before scrubbing. Lately I've had great luck with foaming bore cleaner that I use on my blackpowder rifles. I sit the cylinder down on a table, foam out the chambers and let it sit in the foam for an hour. Quick scrub with nylon brush.
 
Believe it or not, a pencil eraser removes carbon deposits easily. I tried this trick, after reading about it at another blog thread and it worked quite well. Make sure the cylinder face is dry and without oil. Rub the surface with the eraser gently but firm. If the face is very dirty, the process may take a bit longer to produce results.
 
I have to admit that I have given up on cleaning the front side of cylinders to become "really" clean decades ago. I use Ed's Red, Ballistol, CLP, whatever is closest to grab and apply it with an oil brush and let it soak for at least a few hours before I wipe it off and apply some oil to the outside. I am more concerned about the chambers and barrel being clean and oil free.

Why do more when the gun will look like that again next week end?

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Believe it or not- a pencil eraser will REMOVE THE BLUING from the front of a cylinder. Erasers are very abrasive.
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Yikes. Stuff like this is why I never try to get too inventive with maintaining things I care about. Stick to the beaten path.
 
Once it's clean, and before you shoot again, rub a bar of soap on the front of the cylinder and it will help keep the carbon from sticking to the metal
 
The gun cleaning mania shows an underlying disconnect with, and fear of, the elements of fire and brimstone that are the physical and spiritual basis of the non-socially subjugated animus of the firearm.
Click to expand...

*quiet golf applause*
 
Please forgive me if this is a banal thread.
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first time I've seen anyone on an Internet gunboard worried about that.

What is the consensus? Do we just live with the caked front cylinder?
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That's where I come down on the question. Don't bother -- it'll just get discolored again the next time you shoot it. It's kind of like the turn ring -- harmless, unavoidable, and a sign you've actually used the thing the way it was intended to be used.
 
Some guns its a definite issue. I had a couple of Ruger Blackhawks that would bind up, if you didnt keep the face of the cylinder clean.

If the cylinder gap is tight, it really can be an issue.

As far as dont bother, its just going to get dirty again.... that goes to the whole gun too as well, doesnt it?

I suppose it all boils down to personal hygiene, and how you feel about it.
 
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