Carbon

[bigTomHanks]

I'm a mechanical engineer but I am currently serving in the U.S. Army. After we come in from a field training exercise our machine guns have a lot of carbon build-up. To help accelerate the process of recovering our weapons I would like to use a hand held wire disc to remove the carbon. The piece of the gun that I would like to use the wire disc on is steel. My question is: What type of wire disc should I use to remove the carbon without damaging the bolt?

 

[israelkk]

What about the metal coating (black phospate)?

 

[CoryPad]

When I was in the US Army, we had brass brushes to remove carbon deposits from the internals (like bolts). I would recommend brass, since it is softer than steels, and already has been tested by the US Army.

Regards,

Cory

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[Ashereng]

I also think a soft metal is preferred.

What does the US Army recommend?

Thought about a SOS pad? If it gets cooked on stuff off the pot, maybe carbon off your weapon?

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
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[griffengm]

bigTom,
Check with Brush Research. I have used their products and expertise in the past for several different purposes and found them good to work with. Google 'em.
A second option might be to contact someone like Olin who makes a lot of gunpowder. I'm just guessing but they would be likely to have a solvent or method worked out.

Griffy

 

[MadMango]

What weapon are we talking about here? Wouldn't you remove the bolt prior to cleaning?

[green]"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."[/green]

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[bigTomHanks]

The weapon that we are cleaning is a 240C machine gun, and yes the bolt is removed for cleaning.

 

[MechNorth]

Depending on the degree of hardening of the build-up, I've used an assortment of 3M's ScotchBrite industrial abrasives (plastic scouring fabric) and assorted other knock-offs. They're used in metal finishing industry for everything from rough removal (i.e. in polishing operations) to micro-polishing. Depending on the grade, it can be quite aggressive and may take off the base coating material.

Jim Sykes, P.Eng, GDTP-S
Profile Services
CAD-Documentation-GD&T-Product Development

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[m777182]

At my army service, ages ago, in the middle of nowhere, I was using tooth polish paste because it was available,you know...smile, boys...
m777182

 

[dimjim]

I kind of wonder about
oven cleaner, the kind
that you do not have to heat
the oven.

 

[bigTomHanks]

Oven cleaner! Interesting, it might be worth an experiment to see if it works.

 

[CoryPad]

What's the matter with CLP (US Army Cleaner Lubricant Protectant) and brass brushes? If you want to reduce manual labor, use a wire wheel brush with a drill.

Regards,

Cory

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[byrdj]

bigTomHanks,

Thank you for your service

Joe

 

[MintJulep]

I would not go for oven cleaner. Very caustic. Probably would strip the finish and pit the base metal.