I have tried everything in the world to clean the powder stains from my stainless revolvers. The other day I was cleaning up a Ruger .44 magnum to sell and, after trying every trick I know, I thought about a cloth that I had bought from a music store for cleaning guitar strings. I figured, "what the heck, I might as well try it."

WOW! I couldn't believe how well it worked. It cleaned most of the stains off in just a couple of seconds. Where there was build-up I had to brass wire brush it first but after the corrosion was knocked off, the cloth took the stains right off in most cases. I'd say at least 95% if not more.
It's called the Blitz String Care Cloth. You can probably pick one up at your local music store or you can order from the provided link where they have other products for various types of metals.
Hope this will help some of you guys (and gals) out.


Blitz String Care Cloth

Thanks for the tip. I'll give it a try.

I clean the cylinder face of my stainless revolver with the cleaner that my wife uses on the burnerless stove top. A few drops on a cleaning patch after loosening the deposit with a brass brush has it nice and clean. If the deposits are more stubborn put the cleaner on some fine Scotchbrite to remove. Works great and a little goes a long way. You can get the range top cleaner at Wallyworld or Lowes,Menards,Home Depot.

The beauty of the Blitz cloth is that there are no liquids to clean up afterward. It's just a chemically treated cloth (non-toxic btw). A couple of rubs and it seems to break down the powder almost instantly. I was amazed. Another great thing is that it lasts forever. I'll bet I've had this one for 15 years!

__________________
Ted Nugent in 2013!

I looked up Blitz on the internet and found their website. They have the cutest little Swarovski crystal gifts! They're card holders!









Swarovski Crystal Collection

Great tip, by the way, Phillips!

Easy fix for powder stains on stainless

Oxyclean

__________________
Memory of Randy Freas-Rimfired

Good tips and have been filed for future reference.

By the way Barb I was just going out to buy some of the SworeOffSki stuff and some Lladro, pronounced Lardo' for the wife. Then a new black rifle for myself.

Simular products:

MidwayUSA - ADCO E-Z Brite Cloth Lead and Carbon Wipe



I have used this with success.
Birchwood Casey Cleaning Supplies : Cabela's

__________________
Corripe Cervisiam

An ink eraser takes the powder marks off easily.

I have always heard Lladro pronounced "yadro". This by native Spanish speakers.

Russ

Gun Cleaning

__________________
WAC GOA Life
NRA Endowment

Also works on blue dresses

Anything with a good amount of dichlormethane in it will do a good job, and some caustic sodas.
Carbon clean comes to mind from my younger days for cleaning big kettles that were used over open flames.
That stuff cleaned the carbon completely off of copper, aluminum, steel and stainless steel.
Various solvents will not break down carbon. You need a oxidizer to do that.
Oxy-clean has chlorinated goodies in it that do this, and or maybe some caustic sodas. It's just not real potent but good enough for firearms.

__________________
WAC GOA Life
NRA Endowment

Thanks for posting that link to Blitz products. I noticed they a Blitz Nickel and Chrome Care Cloth, so I emailed them asking if it was suitable for nickle plated handguns. If they reply, I'll post it here.

Lead Away Cloth.. Brownells or Midway.. Most Excellent..
DO NOT USE ON BLUED WEAPONs....
That is all....

__________________
SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP