Clean cylinder face

[John Hill]

I just picked up a Mod 60 15 3" .357. It looks to be in good condition over all but had been shot plenty and either never or at best infrequently cleaned. I scrubbed the bore and cylinder chambers with Hoppe's original No 9 with brass brush and then flannel over jag. It all came out bright and looks good. I tried to clean the face of the cylinder with Hoppe's original No 9 and got it better but still looks bad.
How should I clean the cylinder face to have it really clean?
Thanks
John

 

[drumminor2nd]

I've used Flitz and it works. Others have said Never-Dull, Mothers mag and aluminum polish, those lead remover cloths, even a pencil eraser helps.

 

[SS336]

I have to say that you can get it clean and get it shiny but the next time you shoot it the burn rings will be back.
I clean the front of the cylinder of powder fouling and just let it go at that.
If it's going to be a safe queen I would polish them off with a LeadAway cloth. If it's a shooter, personally, I wouldn't bother.

 

[Buzzzer]

LeadAway cloth always works well for me..., on stainless guns only of course...

 

[BabaBlueJay]

LeadAway cloth always works well for me..., on stainless guns only of course...

This... I use it and it comes off easy. They cost next to nothing and are worth their weight in gold.

If you have Amazon, you can find them under 10 bucks there. I May order in bulk next time, because they are not just good for the front face of cylinder, but top strap and other hard to clean areas.

 

[John Hill]

Now Clean

I've used Flitz and it works. Others have said Never-Dull, Mothers mag and aluminum polish, those lead remover cloths, even a pencil eraser helps.

My wife had some "Cameo Aluminum and Stainless Steel " cleaner. I made a paste of it and used your idea of the pencil eraser. Now it is clean as new.
Thanks
John

 

[smithra_66]

Why bother unless it's going to life it's life as a display gun?

 

[S&W-Keeper]

I use a couple of drops of Remington bore cleaner and a tooth brush.It comes off very easy.

 

[John Hill]

Why bother unless it's going to life it's life as a display gun?

I got it used and dirty. I want to start off with a top notch revolver. If I'm going to bet my life on it, I want it to be in first class order and working perfectly. I wanted it lubed properly, no burrs, hangups or drama.
That was my mantra when I rode motorcycles for 64 years. I didn't want or trust anyone else to work on or adjust my bike.
John

 

[M29since14]

Nice job of cleaning up your cylinder. I'm not into that kind of thing with a gun I'm going to use, but it's good to know about stuff that will do the job, when needed.

I vaguely recall the name Cameo (I think ). Nearby there is a family-owned hardware store that stocks all sorts of cleaning supplies. I'll have a look the next time I'm in there. Congrats on your new revolver! That's a very handy model.

 

[raljr1]

I have never done that to any of my nickel revolvers....maybe if I show them at the symposium? Otherwise, if I'm gonna shoot them, why bother.

Robert

 

[kbm6893]

Every one of these threads has posters asking "why bother? They'll be back the next time you shoot it anyway". I bother because I like my guns clean, and a lead away cloth (the Birchwood Casey is the best) is cheap and the rings come off effortlessly. Why have a gun clean everywhere else except the cylinder face? If I was going to shoot the gun again very soon I probably wouldn't bother, but that's never the case. And cleaning them every time makes the rings come off easily. I used the cloth on my old off duty revolver after 10 years of use. It took me quite a while to get the rings off.

I don't use Flitz or Mother's Mag polish because I don't want a shiny cylinder face that doesn't match the rest of the gun. Someone is gonna say I'm removing material using those cloths and that changes the cylinder gap but I've been doing this for 20 years and never an issue. I suppose if I did it every week that is remotely possible, but if I shot the gun every week, I'd probably only do it once a month or so. But I don't shoot my revolvers that often. Some haven't been shot in a couple of years.

 

[oysterer]

Agreed, why removing material. Soak w Ballistol, let it sit, gentle with a bronze bristle brush, hose w Ballistol again and done.

 

[Patrick L]

I too use the lead remover cloths. Cut a small patch so that you don't crud up the whole cloth and it wil last for years. Only use it on a stainless gun, it will remove blue. Not sure if it harms nickel. For my sole nickel baby, I use Flitz on a Qtip.

As others have said, if you shoot your guns its pretty much a moot point, as the very next time you shoot them the rings are back. I clean them off maybe once or twice a year just because I want to, but all my guns are shooters.

 

[glenwolde]

I too use the lead remover cloths. Cut a small patch so that you don't crud up the whole cloth and it wil last for years. Only use it on a stainless gun, it will remove blue. Not sure if it harms nickel. For my sole nickel baby, I use Flitz on a Qtip.

As others have said, if you shoot your guns its pretty much a moot point, as the very next time you shoot them the rings are back. I clean them off maybe once or twice a year just because I want to, but all my guns are shooters.

I have a nickel Model 15 that I've used the lead remover cloth on several times. No harm done. But I don't shoot that gun much.

 

[Patrick L]

Good to know, thank you!

 

[skwchock]

Good information. Thanks to all.

 

[Jeppo]

I've put many thousands of rounds thru this 66-1. And there were at least two previous owners who weren't shy about shooting her.

 

[BillBro]

As has been suggested the Lead-Away cloths are magic for this. I also cut off thin strips,put the frame in a padded vice and use the strips to get all of the build-up over top of the forcing cones and in the corners of the cylinder opening. Do yourself a big favor and take the cylinder apart to clean it. Ifbyoure OCD like me you can do a thorough job that way.

 

[WR Moore]

As has been mentioned, with stainless guns, the lead remover cloth (Birchwood Casey works great) is the way to go. About the only concrete reason I can see for having the cylinder face clean as new is if you get detained on suspicion of having been in a shooting. The bright and shiny face of the cylinder just might make the difference between detained and free to go.