Hoppe's #9 doesn't dissolve carbon very well

**Bang** · July 17th, 2019, 11:55 AM

Submersed a .30 carbine bolt in Hoppe's overnight, expecting some discoloration the following day. Thought it would save disassembling the bolt.
Nope. Ran Q-Tip on face, got blackened. Pretty obvious the extractor was retaining carbon. It's the reason I bought the bolt tool.

Maybe Carb cleaner spray? I have an air compressor. Anyone have success with carbon-cutting fluids?

**Walleye Hunter** · July 17th, 2019, 12:00 PM

My go-to for tough dirts is Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) if you can find it anymore. I made my last purchase at Sherwin-Williams not too long about but I wouldn't be surprised if it's no longer available. It's really nasty stuff and only use it outdoors or in extremely well ventilated garage. Lowe's et al sell MEK substitute but I can assure you it does not work as well.

ETA: I cannot vouch for it's effectiveness on carbon but would expect it to work.

**frankski** · July 17th, 2019, 12:24 PM

I’ve had great results using Gun Scrubber. I use it OUTSIDE. Blast the bolt, slide, insides of the receiver, whatever. Hit it with air compressor or just a can of compressed air. Let it drip dry. Very effective and fast.

**snuffy19608** · July 17th, 2019, 12:30 PM

Carb cleaner, brake cleaner, Gun Scrubber if it's what I think it is will clean everything off your parts really fast. The problem is, when your parts dry right away and look dry, they ARE dry because all the oil is gone.

Metal without oil rusts, FAST. I use brake cleaner occasionally on really filthy stuff, but have a can of CLP or other oil right next to me. As soon as the solvent is gone, spray the crap out of the parts and get oil back into the pores. As long as you oil right away, you should be fine.

**Gunsnwater** · July 17th, 2019, 01:14 PM

Oil of wintergreen is the carbon solvent. Marvel mystery oil has it. You can buy it straight. Be carful. It metabolizes into aspirin. It’s in Ben gay, tiger balm, gum, all kinds of stuff. Look it up.

You are asking number 9 to remove carbon without mechanical action. Not gonna happen. Get an ultrasonic cleaner. Use elbow grease.

**ideaman** · July 17th, 2019, 01:26 PM

How about alcohol?

**HKusp 45** · July 17th, 2019, 04:30 PM

Been using shooter lube seems to do a good job better than a lot of stuff I've tried before

https://www.shooterlube.com/collecti...=8714417012846

**K.C.** · July 17th, 2019, 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by HKusp 45

Been using shooter lube seems to do a good job better than a lot of stuff I've tried before

https://www.shooterlube.com/collecti...=8714417012846

I recently seen video reviews on the solvent. I'd like to try it on the AR but kinda worried it may pull the Frog lube from the pores. I really like the ease of clean up frog lube provides but this stuff looks like it would make it even easier. I contacted the manufacturer and asked if it was compatible with frog lube, I'll post what they say for those who are interested when they get back to me.

Shooters lube response:

"The solvent is designed to strip all oils and lubricants from the surface that it is being used on. Frog Lube included. One thing to be careful with FL though is that they use a bio based formula that when mixed with petroleum based products their lube can gel up. You would want to make sure that all the old lube is removed and the solvent is wiped off before reapplying fresh Frog Lube if that is what you planned on continuing to use."