Suppressors Suppressor cleaning?

[Vinnie45ACP]

I have been looking and even asking the manufacturers which not one has gotten back to me.
Is using a ultrasonic cleaner with specific Carbon cleaner the best way, or a suitable way for cleaning the suppressors?

 

[_Windrider_]

I have been looking and even asking the manufacturers which not one has gotten back to me.
Is using a ultrasonic cleaner with specific Carbon cleaner the best way, or a suitable way for cleaning the suppressors?

I would think no, but maybe yes? If its the kind you can take a part id say for sure, but if its a welded unit, you could risk trapping liquid in there. @TBACRAY or @Zak Smith will have the best advice

 

[Vinnie45ACP]

I would think no, but maybe yes? If its the kind you can take a part id say for sure, but if its a welded unit, you could risk trapping liquid in there. @TBACRAY or @Zak Smith will have the best advice

Thanks! And yes this was a question for the ones you can take apart and separate all the parts, I.e baffles

 

[SourMash]

@Vinnie45ACP If the baffles are aluminum, I don't think you're supposed to use an ultra-sonic cleaner.

 

[Vinnie45ACP]

@Vinnie45ACP If the baffles are aluminum, I don't think you're supposed to use an ultra-sonic cleaner.

Only one of my cans has Aluminum baffles, my CGS mod 9, the other two, a DA mask is SS baffles, and my CGS Hyperion has titanium baffles, I guess reason for the high cost. And my TBAC Magnus, they say to use a ultrasonic, just not with CLR, TBAC is the most helpful in a cleaning procedure, the others not so much.

 

[_Windrider_]

Only one of my cans has Aluminum baffles, my CGS mod 9, the other two, a DA mask is SS baffles, and my CGS Hyperion has titanium baffles, I guess reason for the high cost. And my TBAC Magnus, they say to use a ultrasonic, just not with CLR, TBAC is the most helpful in a cleaning procedure, the others not so much.

TBAC will clean it for you

 

[ewoaf]

Peroxyacetic acid soak for a few hours and scrape clean as best you can. A modded flat screwdriver bent at a short ninety can get in there for some.

 

[37L1]

You could go this route:

Decimator Suppressor Cleaner - Bore Tech

Order Decimator Suppressor Cleaner for only 59.99 online at Bore Tech for the best in firearm cleaning and care!

www.boretech.com

 

[Stugots]

You could go this route:

Decimator Suppressor Cleaner - Bore Tech

Order Decimator Suppressor Cleaner for only 59.99 online at Bore Tech for the best in firearm cleaning and care!

www.boretech.com

WOW, They ain't giving that stuff away are they...

 

[hafejd30]

I know @FuhQ uses clr in ultrasonic for his mask baffles. From the rimfire thread. I believe they suggested using an ear plug to seal my TBAC ultra 9 then fill with clr and repeat til clean. Can be done with SS and Ti cans. Not aluminum

TBAC guy commented in thread below

Suppressor manufacturers that clean their customer’s cans?

So I’m considering a sealed .30 cal or .223 can. I have a few user serviceable cans already and would like to try a sealed unit. But I don’t want to clean it because cleaning suppressors sort of sucks. What suppressor manufacturers clean their own cans that customers send them? I believe TBAC...

www.snipershide.com

 

[MikeinTexas]

Peroxyacetic acid soak for a few hours and scrape clean as best you can. A modded flat screwdriver bent at a short ninety can get in there for some.

That is commonly called “The Dip” and it generates toxic lead acetate in suspension. It must be disposed of properly…https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/07/05/the-dip-a-toxic-mixture-used-to-clean-silencer-parts/. And you can’t use it with aluminum as it will dissolve the baffles.

 

[FuhQ]

I know @FuhQ uses clr in ultrasonic for his mask baffles. From the rimfire thread. I believe they suggested using an ear plug to seal my TBAC ultra 9 then fill with clr and repeat til clean. Can be done with SS and Ti cans. Not aluminum

TBAC guy commented in thread below

Suppressor manufacturers that clean their customer’s cans?

So I’m considering a sealed .30 cal or .223 can. I have a few user serviceable cans already and would like to try a sealed unit. But I don’t want to clean it because cleaning suppressors sort of sucks. What suppressor manufacturers clean their own cans that customers send them? I believe TBAC...

www.snipershide.com

I use Purple Power and Simple Green in the ultrasonic cleaner.

Never tried CLR, but I hear lots of guys have good luck with just putting their baffles a jar of it at room temp overnight and letting them sit, then wiping them off and rinsing before reassembly the next day. But maybe someone else who uses CLR can chime in.

 

[hafejd30]

I use Purple Power and Simple Green in the ultrasonic cleaner.

Never tried CLR, but I hear lots of guys have good luck with just putting their baffles a jar of it at room temp overnight and letting them sit, then wiping them off and rinsing before reassembly the next day. But maybe someone else who uses CLR can chime in.

Sorry my bad on that. Figured you’d have some good info on the mask either way

 

[ewoaf]

That is commonly called “The Dip” and it generates toxic lead acetate in suspension. It must be disposed of properly…https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/07/05/the-dip-a-toxic-mixture-used-to-clean-silencer-parts/. And you can’t use it with aluminum as it will dissolve the baffles.

That's weird. My baffles have failed to melt or otherwise deteriorate in any way after years of cleanings.

 

[MikeinTexas]

That's weird. My baffles have failed to melt or otherwise deteriorate in any way after years of cleanings.

Do tell. I was steered away from it because I had AL baffles and someone explained to me the science about it…so you have a AL can? I have a tactical solutions .22 can

 

[ewoaf]

Do tell. I was steered away from it because I had AL baffles and someone explained to me the science about it…so you have a AL can? I have a tactical solutions .22 can

Me too! There's two types of people on the interwebs, those who say a thing can't be done, and those who are too busy doing it to listen.

On my tacsol I've found that usually I have to give it a good soak just to get the baffles out. You can't tumble or blast them until you do anyway, but by the time they're out, the crud is softened enough to kinda scrub them off anyway.

Any other cleaning method is arguably as toxic as any other, and disposal is as easy as disposing of oil or antifreeze, not to mention precipitation and evap reduction. Accordingly, every cleaning method is arguably as destructive. If you soak them long enough I'm sure they will degrade, so just don't I guess?

Try it out on scrap Al. It's the cheapest and probably most effective option.

 

[MikeinTexas]

I’m doing it right now with a scrap of AL…worst thing is I have to sneak to the dump and dispose of it w/o Mrs. Mike finding out

 

[ITR_98_111]

I'm told CLR removes coatings - thus you can use it on the insides or for baffles, but you wouldn't want to dunk it in an ultrasonic full of it. Not sure how true that is, I haven't tested it - but the ultrasonic with simple green seems to work pretty well. TBAC gives you a weight (which is about 2oz heavier than factory if I recall correctly) which they say clean it at.

 

[neeltburn]

From TBAC's site. If you have further questions give them a call and they will get you squared away.

Do I need to clean my suppressor? How often?

Many people believe that suppressors need to be kept very clean to perform well. This is not true. Most of our silencer models are sealed and welded,...

thunderbeastarms.com

 

[DeathBeforeDismount]

This is the best shit to use and this is the cheapest place to buy in bulk

Simple Green 5 Gal. Extreme Aircraft and Precision Cleaner 0100000113405 - The Home Depot

Extreme Simple Green Aircraft and Precision Cleaner was specifically designed with long term metal cleaning in mind. It's a non-flammable, water-based cleaner with an added corrosion inhibitor that provides

www.homedepot.com

Dillute it 3:1 with water and throw in ultrasonic cleaner.

 

[Jefe's Dope]

You could go this route:

Decimator Suppressor Cleaner - Bore Tech

Order Decimator Suppressor Cleaner for only 59.99 online at Bore Tech for the best in firearm cleaning and care!

www.boretech.com

I'm currently using C4 on my TBAC7 after approx. 3000+ rounds. While it works, it's been a lot of scrapping and soaking. Still unable to get the most stubborn carbon fouling out of the crevice in the first cone leading into the baffles.

 

[Baron23]

TBAC U-7 ad I just plug one end and Gil it w Bore Yech Carbon Remover. Won’t screw up finish or metal and works well. Just leave it in there for a day or two then flush w water.

My friend @GBMaryland turned me on to this and he has cleaned a number of dirty cans this way.

 

[OREGUN]

Anyone ( @Zak Smith )know if ZEP CLR, as recommended by TBAC will damage the finish on an U5? Can I just chuck it in a pan full or do I need to plug/fill/keep it off the outside?

 

[oso1]

I use CLR all the time to clean my suppressors, I put the baffles and end cap in a container of CLR and them soak for a couple of hours and they wipe clean, the tube I take a rag saturated with CLR to wipe the inside and use a brass brush. I do wash/rinse all the CLR off once clean, there is no wear from the CLR, my endcap is cerakoted and the cerakote has not been removed by the CLR. Now all of my baffles are SS or Ti, I do not have any experience with aluminum, also I do my own cerakote so I was not worried if the endcap wore off but so far a non issue.

 

[kswaterfowl]

I put a foam ear plug in the end if mine, drop it in a pvc tube, and fill with clr. I let it soak for a few hours and rinse with warm water and dawn dish soap. Clr does an excellent job taking all the carbon off.

 

[OREGUN]

I put a foam ear plug in the end if mine, drop it in a pvc tube, and fill with clr. I let it soak for a few hours and rinse with warm water and dawn dish soap. Clr does an excellent job taking all the carbon off.

Could you just throw it in the tube and fill (the whole tube) with clr? Is the earplug doing anything?

 

[kswaterfowl]

Could you just throw it in the tube and fill (the whole tube) with clr? Is the earplug doing anything?

I use the ear plug to keep the clr inside, because it will fade the coating on some suppressors.

 

[leftyk82]

I put a foam ear plug in the end if mine, drop it in a pvc tube, and fill with clr. I let it soak for a few hours and rinse with warm water and dawn dish soap. Clr does an excellent job taking all the carbon off.

What do you do with that CLR afterwards? Keep or dispose?

 

[kswaterfowl]

I dispose of it.

 

[MikeinTexas]

Ewoaf & all,
I made up a few ounces of “the dip” and the only aluminum I had laying around was a single 9mm Blazer case. I took the side of my knife and scraped down to bare metal..I’m sure there’s some kinda coating on them. And chucked it in the stuff.

overnight: just bubbles on all the case
-2 days: the scraped area shows black blotches, the rest of the case is normal
-3 days: same black blotches that seem to have gotten a little bigger, nothing more than a few flakes of pepper on the table, I can only think it’s where the peroxide or acid in the vinegar has begun eating the aluminum.
-today is day 5: the case is speckled all over like a cheetah.

so I guess it’s not good for the aluminum, but it’s certainly not gonna dissolve a baffle into dust for an overnight bath in it.

 

[ewoaf]

Bravo Zulu for the fine empirical study of how proxy acetic acid magically melts Al. I can't recall if I ever did a 4 hr soaks or an overnight soak, but either way I don't think I ever got beyond the gunk. It's definitely less destructive than shooting through one. Hope it helps. Lead is a PITA without it.