MEK as Carbon Cleaner

[dataforce1@gmail.com]

A great gunsmith, works on pistols, actionsbyt.com, recommended Methly Ethyl Ketone on carbon that shows up on cylinder of my 357.

Does anyone use on barrel carbon?

JR

 

[ratguner]

MEK is some nasty stuff. I use for the final cleaning of cables prior to potting connectors for underwater use.

I would look for other alternatives to remove carbon. If you have a stainless revolver, try liquid wrench. Its not environmentally friendly, but not nearly as bad as MEK. If your gun is blued, DO NOT use this. Slip2000 or other carbon removers would suffice.

Cheers,

Larry

 

[Frankr]

Most good brake cleaners, ones that work well and dont leave a film is nothing more than.
trichlorothane.. I use it to clean my bolt, will pass some pathches down the tube once and a while.
just have to make sure you oil WELL when your done useing it.

 

[racesnake]

One other thing that needs mentioning - MEK, acetone, etc. are readily absorbed through the skin and are not good for your internals. ALWAYS wear protective gloves!!

 

[Frankr]

yea the good brake cleaners are gone..trichlorethane is baned...
but when ever you read a can of brake clean and it says contains 1,1,1 that is the one to buy.
trichlorethane or 1,1,1 is a very mean solvent..

 

[holstil]

Wasn't trichlorothane used as a termite pesticide before dursban?

Anyway, seems a good way to remove carbon is to pop a few shots to warm it up first then use patchout. I notice that cleaning my crown, after taking the brake off, is a lot easier right after I shoot a string. If I forget to clean at the match it is always harder to get clean when I get home. I usually wait till I get to the range to heat it up again.

Same with twisting case necks with steelwool.

Jim

 

[Hondo]

Has anyone tried automotive fuel injector cleaner.

 

[Frankr]

dont know about that holstil.
there are alot of good carbon cleaners on the market for gun barrels..
You have to be carefull not to cause Hydrogen embrittlement...That is a good joke, a gunsmith friend of mine had me tell that to one of his pain in the ass customer while he was laughing his head off around the corner.I got the idea off a bottle of buleing remover, it said will not cause Hydrogen embrittlement, so the big joke was every thing you have to watch not to cause Hydrogen embrittlement..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1,1,1-Trichloroethane