Cleaning a Revolver

[johnfred1965]

I have a stainless revolver that is badly smoke stained on the front of the cylinder. I can get the lead and powder fouling off, but not the discoloring. Any Suggestions? I am selling and want it to look good.

 

[spclark]

Don’t go to extremes to remove discoloring on stainless, you may do more harm than good. Unless it’s been abused, a buyer ought to expect some signs of typical use on a revolver that’s been fired.

 

[LA50SHOOTER]

I have a stainless revolver that is badly smoke stained on the front of the cylinder. I can get the lead and powder fouling off, but not the discoloring. Any Suggestions? I am selling and want it to look good.

Iosso Gunbrite Rust Preventative and Gun Cleaner 2 oz Paste will clean it. Also Flitz or Semichrome Polish - All 3 are polishing compounds & will remove that discoloring from the front of your revolver cylinders.

 

[johnfred1965]

Thanks LA
SPCLARK I won't go overboard, I do use my guns, not a collector, but if I sell it, I want the buyer to get the best he can out of it. I"ve got a ceracote kimber 45 with a black muzzle also, been afraid to work on that one even though cerecoat is some tough stuff.

 

[JayHHI6818]

I use Flitz on my stainless 686. Does a good job!

 

[Rsadams]

+1 on flitz...

 

[PWS]

This stuff does about the best job for me for cleaning cylinders and frames of my stainless revovlers:

https://www.slip2000.com/slip2000_carbon_killer.php

I strip the revolver down completely, spread a plastic bag over the work bench, either soak or douse everything and let it sit a bit, then grab a used toothbrush and rubber gloves and go to town. Rinse everything off under hot tap water, blow dry, and hit with lubricant/rustpreventative.

FWIW, Carbon Killer has an orange peel smell...?

 

[dickn52]

Knowing this will be a forever chore.

 

[mongo chicago]

+ 2 on FLitz

 

[kneedtospeed]

I Tried Everything on my S&W 460 Magnum, I know what you mean.
Get a can of Nevr-Dull.
Wipes it off like magic!

 

[bpd459]

Greetings,
Give an eraser a try.
Good luck
John

 

[Rem06]

I have a stainless revolver that is badly smoke stained on the front of the cylinder. I can get the lead and powder fouling off, but not the discoloring. Any Suggestions? I am selling and want it to look good.

+3 om Flitz i have 2 686 and a colt Anaconda that shine with flitz and their polish cloth

 

[Rsadams]

I Tried Everything on my S&W 460 Magnum, I know what you mean.
View attachment 1064479 Get a can of Nevr-Dull.
Wipes it off like magic!

Ohh man I forgot about this stuff , I used to use it on mag wheels when I was young... If it's still as good as it used to be it definitely works....

 

[Dusty Stevens]

A krazy kloth will wipe it off like its dust

 

[ricco1949]

Remington Lead Wipe removed all stains and carbon from my SS revolver cylinders. It's a cloth impregnated with an abrasive specifically formulated to remove lead and carbon deposits on SS revolver cylinders and forcing cones. Bought a package 30years ago and still have most of it left.... it only takes a small square to clean a cylinder.
Rick

 

[Mr Underbridge]

Why would you remove the seasoning
Another Slip 2000 carbon remover vote here too.
Just sit the cylinder in it and let it soak for a while, just do not put any blued parts in.

 

[Forum Boss]

Birchwood Casey lead remover cloth will clean off the front of the cylinder very easily. I used to shoot Cowboy action so I was cleaning 4 revolvers weekly. I would then use some aerosol Cleaner outside. You will need a brush for inside each chamber.

Video (See for yourself):

For hard fouling around the outside of forcing cone you'll probably need to use a bronze brush. But try solvent on nylon brush first.

WARNING -- Do not use the cloth on Blued revolvers.

 

[JFrank]

I have a stainless revolver that is badly smoke stained on the front of the cylinder. I can get the lead and powder fouling off, but not the discoloring. Any Suggestions? I am selling and want it to look good.

How old is this Revolver ?
you may not want to mess with it too much.

 

[jepp2]

I am selling and want it to look good.

If I am buying a used SS revolver, I would much prefer to see the donuts on the front of the cylinder. I can see if the fouling has been removed, but the stain is just an indication the seller wasn't a zealot in cleaning. If the cleaning is done improperly and excessively, it be harmful.

But then again, I would run from a SS revolver someone tried their hand at polishing.

 

[jimmymac]

A krazy kloth will wipe it off like its dust

If crazy cloth is the same as a lead clean cloth, that is the answer. They clean stainless beautifully. Keep it away from blueing though.