PAG+ester+mineral spirits for silencer cleaning?

[Elkins45]

I’m asking here rather than in a firearms forum because I figured all the experts in petroleum solvents would be here. Silencers (especially rimfire) tend to fill with carbon and need aggressive cleaning. Would a mix of PAG and ester refrigerant oils plus some sort of carrier like mineral spirits, DMSO or maybe ATF be an effective carbon remover?

Or maybe just a bottle of Berryman’s, given how well it works for piston soaks? Or BG EPR in some compatible solvent?

I’m really trying to avoid the $$$ price tag of the fancy commercial solution that is mostly ethanolamine, 2-butoxyethanol, and DMSO.

 

[wwillson]

Hoppes is about the best solvent I have found to remove carbon from a suppressor. There will be hard carbon that you can't get off of the baffles no matter what you try. It's just a fact of life. I find it's much easier to keep the carbon from sticking than it is to get it off. I put an anti-seize on my baffles and cap to prevent them from seizing. Without the anti-seize the baffles can be extremely difficult to get out. Check to see if the compound in the anti-seize will have a galvanic reaction with the metal your suppressor is made from before you use it. You have been warned.

 

[CleverUserName]

I use slip 2000 EWL and don’t need solvents. The lube is Ester based and dissolves carbon as well as provides lubrication. It’s the only thing I’ve ever used.

 

[dnewton3]

Has anyone tried ultrasonic cleaning? I've been curious about that for mine.

 

[wwillson]

Has anyone tried ultrasonic cleaning? I've been curious about that for mine.

I have been told it works pretty well, but there will be some carbon stuck to the baffles, it's almost like it's welded on. I can't scrape it off of mine with anything.

However, ultrasonic cleaning doesn't help you get the baffles out of the tube, that can be very difficult, trust me.

 

[dnewton3]

Recommendation for the fluid medium in the ultrasonic cleaner?
- Simple Green dilution?
- Purple Power dilution?
- mineral spirits?
- other?

 

[demarpaint]

Recommendation for the fluid medium in the ultrasonic cleaner?
- Simple Green dilution?
- Purple Power dilution?
- mineral spirits?
- other?

I found Simple Green Purple works quite well. I start with a 60/40 mix and work up if need be. I've used it on muzzle brakes with good results.