Cleaning carbon out of a suppressor

[Txhillbilly]

I clean all of mine in Berryman's Chem-Dip. It works great! I can take my Spectre II & Mack Brothers Varminter 3.0 apart,but both of my Thunder Beast 30P-1's I can't.
I just soak them in the Chem-Dip for 24-48 hours and wipe off the pieces with a rag,the Thunder Beast cans are stood on end to drain out,and then I blow them out with my compressor. It's the easiest way that I've found to clean them.

 

[Prairiedogger]

How do you dispose of this caustic mix?

So far I keep it sealed in one of my wife's Tupperware containers, and reuse it. Haven't had to dispose of it yet.
I'll ask the company that gave me this recipe. TBAC.

 

[tmwinds]

How do you dispose of this caustic mix?

Dilution is the solution to pollution.

 

[Nomad47]

After soaking overnight in Simple Green, I was able to remove the cap at the barrel end. WOW. What a carbon buildup - close to 1/2" thick. But it all came off with the aid of a screwdriver. The valve spring that I use as the blast chamber spacer also came out fairly easily. But I was unable to remove the cap at the other end which is aluminum while the tube and barrel end cap are titanium. I'm soaking again in Simple Green, for 24 hours this time. Then I'll try again to remove the end cap. If still no go, I will try a soak in carb cleaner for 24 hours.

 

[dolek]

Not to start an argument, but I'm calling BS. Would you spray the inside of your barrel with pam and fire it? The suppressor is going to burn the oil, all the while being coated with powder residue(carbon). IMO you're just adding a catalyst to accelerate the process.
There's carbon solvents, no one is going to shoot their can wet with a solvent either.

Calling BS on your statements . Have you tried the spray ?

 

[Geno C]

I would use kitty litter.

Anytime I have liquid that I don't feel comfortable flushing it down the drain (including cooking grease) I turn it into a solid with kitty litter and put it in the trash can. If it's something really bad mix it with Portland cement.

Joe

Baking soda will neutralize the acid. This mixture becomes a problem when lead in added to the mix like in a rimfire cans. That makes a mixture containing lead acetate. Not cool to dispose of that stuff by pouring it out or mixing with kitty litter and tossing it. It should really be disposed of by a hazmat disposal service.

For centerfire cans CLR is all you need to get the carbon out.

The only time I had carbon build up was when I ran a lot of H1000 with a 243. The guys at TBAC reinforced my own findings saying they see that also.

 

[Milo 2.0]

Calling BS on your statements . Have you tried the spray ?

No, and not going to, I am set up to clean suppressors, take apart and sealed, CLR, or a clr type on steroids, Spartan High Acid(not acid and eco friendly.
The op has received some of the lamest advice I've seen on this forum to date.

 

[edw]

I have one of the smaller Hornady sonic cleaners. My current fantasy, at least the one that is firearms related, that does NOT include the Dillon catalog ladies, is to afford the Sonic 9. It will take an M4 complete upper.

Lmao

 

[bobinpa]

Just out of curiosity, how many rounds do you get before you clean and/or how do you know when to clean a suppressor?

 

[JRS]

Use choke tube cleaner.

 

[ricco1949]

Harbor Freight sonic cleaner, 1/2 tablespoon Dawn dishwasher detergent, one tablespoon Cream of tartar. Run with heat on until clean. Carbon begins to dissolve immediately. Caution: This will begin to remove Cerakote around lettering on main tube.

 

[Milo 2.0]

Just out of curiosity, how many rounds do you get before you clean and/or how do you know when to clean a suppressor?

1K to 1500 rds, couple mfr's recommend cleaning at .4-.5oz of buildup, need to have the new can weight to do this.

 

[bobinpa]

1K to 1500 rds, couple mfr's recommend cleaning at .4-.5oz of buildup, need to have the new can weight to do this.

Thanks, that helps.

 

[Nomad47]

1K to 1500 rds, couple mfr's recommend cleaning at .4-.5oz of buildup, need to have the new can weight to do this.

That makes sense. As near as I can tell, I have about 3000 rounds thru the suppressor since new and it has gained 1 ounce of weight. And one ounce of carbon is obviously a lot of carbon.

This morning, I was able to remove the front cap and 3 of the freeze plug baffles. Soaking one more time in Simple Green. Then on to liquid carb cleaner. When I was buying the Simple Green and liquid carb cleaner, I looked at CLR and almost bought a bottle. Wish I had now.

Anyone know if CLR would be safe to use (not eat) an aluminum foil bread pan? That is what I'm using for my soaking container.

 

[Nomad47]

For centerfire cans CLR is all you need to get the carbon out.

The only time I had carbon build up was when I ran a lot of H1000 with a 243. The guys at TBAC reinforced my own findings saying they see that also.

Interesting about H1000. That is the powder I'm using in my 6SLR.

 

[Milo 2.0]

Interesting about H1000. That is the powder I'm using in my 6SLR.

H1000 one of the worst powders for can use, not sure if attributed to non burned powder, or just it's inherent properties.

 

[Milo 2.0]

That makes sense. As near as I can tell, I have about 3000 rounds thru the suppressor since new and it has gained 1 ounce of weight. And one ounce of carbon is obviously a lot of carbon.

This morning, I was able to remove the front cap and 3 of the freeze plug baffles. Soaking one more time in Simple Green. Then on to liquid carb cleaner. When I was buying the Simple Green and liquid carb cleaner, I looked at CLR and almost bought a bottle. Wish I had now.

Anyone know if CLR would be safe to use (not eat) an aluminum foil bread pan? That is what I'm using for my soaking container.

CLR is good, 50-50 mix or slightly more, doubt you want to put the bread pan back in service for baking after clr, but we soak showerheads in it and reuse<I'm no help. Building a 2" pvc sleeve, one glued cap, perfect for this.

 

[Geno C]

Interesting about H1000. That is the powder I'm using in my 6SLR.

Switched to H4350 and never had a problem since.

 

[Nomad47]

CLR is good, 50-50 mix or slightly more, doubt you want to put the bread pan back in service for baking after clr, but we soak showerheads in it and reuse<I'm no help. Building a 2" pvc sleeve, one glued cap, perfect for this.

I was looking for a metal bread pan for soaking, but couldn't find one locally that would fit my 10" suppressor, then I ran across the aluminum foil one. Its only purpose will be for soaking my suppressor.

The PVC is an excellent idea - so I assume CLR won't eat the PVC.

Still wondering if anyone knows if CLR will attack the foil.

 

[Milo 2.0]

The PVC is an excellent idea - so I assume CLR won't eat the PVC.

Still wondering if anyone knows if CLR will attack the foil.

I wish I could answer that, but I can't, going to say it's going to take some time on either.