Where is that carbon hiding? - Page 1

clancey2651 Joined Sep 2009 Posts 272 EE 100% (1) MO, USA	Posted: 9/15/2020 6:33:16 AM EST After cleaning any of my AR's, when I cycle the bolt carrier group, there is always the smell of stale carbon for a few seconds. Where is that coming from? What am I missing?

fxntime

Member

Joined Jan 2003
Posts 86994
EE 100% (9)

MI, USA

Posted: 9/15/2020 6:37:19 AM EST

[Last Edit: 9/15/2020 6:42:43 AM EST by fxntime]

A drill Sargent screaming at you and telling you it's still dirty and to get your lazy ass back and to really clean it?

Or, in civilian life, realizing WGAF and it means absolutely nothing? Enough Hoppes #9 will kill that icky carbon smell.

There are a lot of nook and crannies [and a gas tube] where odors can cling to. In the real world, it means nothing.

I still remember having to clean the inside of the gas tube with long ''Q tips'' in basic. Number of times I've cleaned mine once out, ZERO.

I do not have a license to kill, but I do have a learner's permit.
Liberals are a curious mix of communism and fascism, they want to destroy you but want to use your own money to do it.

Stretchin Gretchen leaves me retchin.

Tigwelder1971 Gun whore Joined Dec 2014 Posts 33279 EE 100% (390) IA, USA	Posted: 9/15/2020 7:10:55 PM EST This'll fix it....best smell ever. Attached File
	Don't crowd me "Can't never could 'til try came along".

Leonitus Gun junkie Joined Oct 2016 Posts 2679 EE 100% (88) IN, USA	Posted: 9/15/2020 7:52:25 PM EST Originally Posted By clancey2651: After cleaning any of my AR's, when I cycle the bolt carrier group, there is always the smell of stale carbon for a few seconds. Where is that coming from? What am I missing? View Quote Gas tube

AS556 Joined Feb 2015 Posts 12119 EE 100% (11) USA	Posted: 9/16/2020 3:25:52 AM EST Don't worry about it. Go shoot.

REGULARGUY556

Joined Aug 2012
Posts 941
EE 0% (0)

SC, USA

Posted: 9/16/2020 10:21:41 AM EST

[Last Edit: 9/16/2020 10:24:02 AM EST by REGULARGUY556]

OP that's the smell of freedom brother. I love the smell of burnt gunpowder and CLP. It takes me back to my younger years of being in the .mil. To answer your question if you have thoroughly cleaned with a good CLP your barrel, BCG and wiped out the guts of your lower you really shouldn't smell anything. I can smell it after I fire my rifle(s) however, after I have cleaned them I no longer smell it. Edited to add content.

Tigwelder1971 Gun whore Joined Dec 2014 Posts 33291 EE 100% (390) IA, USA	Posted: 9/16/2020 12:13:39 PM EST Quote History Originally Posted By Leonitus: Gas tube View Quote ^^^^ Flood that bitch. Hit it with compressed air.
	Don't crowd me "Can't never could 'til try came along".

Cressida Joined Dec 2008 Posts 233 EE 0% (0) TX, USA	Posted: 9/22/2020 6:49:16 PM EST Bodily fluids leaking from your target smell worse. Keep advancing......

clancey2651 Joined Sep 2009 Posts 276 EE 100% (1) MO, USA	Posted: 9/23/2020 8:25:00 AM EST I located the source. The hole where the gas tube enters the upper receiver. It is in there someplace. Any way to get into those little slots around the gas tube to clean them out?

Gregory_K Joined Feb 2003 Posts 19721 EE 0% (0) TN, USA	Posted: 9/23/2020 10:13:13 AM EST why?

556Cliff

Joined Sep 2003
Posts 7001
EE 0% (0)

WA, USA

Posted: 9/23/2020 12:41:28 PM EST

[Last Edit: 9/23/2020 12:44:51 PM EST by 556Cliff]

Hose it with brake cleaner? Though it doesn't really do anything to get caked on carbon off.

But, what I really think you're smelling is the fumes from the anodizing burnishing against anodizing from the charging handle rubbing in it's slot in the upper... I notice that on my ARs whenever I pull back the charging handle.

Leonitus Gun junkie Joined Oct 2016 Posts 2694 EE 100% (88) IN, USA	Posted: 9/24/2020 6:25:41 AM EST Shoot more. Sniff less.

bfoosh06

Happy to be a Member

Joined Sep 2008
Posts 11792
EE 0% (0)

NT, USA

Posted: 9/30/2020 6:33:22 PM EST

Quote History

Originally Posted By clancey2651:
I located the source. The hole where the gas tube enters the upper receiver. It is in there someplace.

Any way to get into those little slots around the gas tube to clean them out?

View Quote

@clancey2651

Welp.... I just stumbled upon this.... There is a gizmo for the little slots around the gas tube.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1017302046?pid=732007

https://otistec.com/content/Vent%20Hole%20Scraper%20Tool.pdf

*Hold on to your AR-15s. Their magic must be very powerful, or they wouldn’t want them.*
JAFOM.... Just another fat old man.

________________________________

TOGC,IADC

Tejas1836 Heart Sound Analyst Joined Nov 2017 Posts 3178 EE 100% (87) TX, USA	Posted: 9/30/2020 8:04:04 PM EST Quote History Originally Posted By bfoosh06: @clancey2651 Welp.... I just stumbled upon this.... There is a gizmo for the little slots around the gas tube. https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1017302046?pid=732007 https://otistec.com/content/Vent%20Hole%20Scraper%20Tool.pdf View Quote Damn, another I thought I had seen everything

bfoosh06 Happy to be a Member Joined Sep 2008 Posts 11793 EE 0% (0) NT, USA	Posted: 9/30/2020 10:58:41 PM EST [Last Edit: 9/30/2020 11:01:34 PM EST by bfoosh06] @Tejas1836 Fully agree. However... it did make me wonder why those tiny 4 leaf clover holes couldn't be enlarged to allow for better suppressed gas exhausting.
	Hold on to your AR-15s. Their magic must be very powerful, or they wouldn’t want them. JAFOM.... Just another fat old man. ________________________________ TOGC,IADC

FritzTKatt

Member

Joined Nov 2016
Posts 4164
EE 100% (1)

OH, USA

Posted: 10/1/2020 4:25:18 AM EST

Some good answers here.

If you have a super nasty rifle, hit it with carbon solvent and brush everything you can, then wipe out what you can. Take some brake cleaner (compressed acetone) and WEAR YOUR DAMN EYEPRO, spray that whole thing out. It may eat some rubber, so keep it away from your optics and furniture.

Works especially well for getting the fouled oil out of the BE/locking lugs.

Shouldn't be anything left, so youll need to get fresh oil all over. Particularly the barrel exterior.

Nut coal is best coal. Now available in 87lb bags.

ErikS

Keep looking up.

Joined Nov 2010
Posts 17138
EE 0% (0)

SC, USA

Posted: 10/1/2020 4:33:36 AM EST

Quote History

Originally Posted By clancey2651:
I located the source. The hole where the gas tube enters the upper receiver. It is in there someplace.

Any way to get into those little slots around the gas tube to clean them out?

View Quote

Quit wasting effort and obsessing over nothing and go shoot it again. It sounds like you have about 1 mag through it so far.

"We were all focused on when technology would overcome human strengths, like intelligence and creativity. What nobody was watching for, and what has already happened is that technology has overcome human weaknesses, like addiction and tribalism."

fxntime

Member

Joined Jan 2003
Posts 87227
EE 100% (9)

MI, USA

Posted: 10/1/2020 6:10:35 AM EST

OP, are you a drill Sargent or weapons room armorer?

Seriously, it's a firearm, they smell of oil, cleaning solvent, and powder residue. It's the smell of freedom.

I'm going to bet you are smelling residue that is in the slip ring spring area and you just aren't going to get it all out unless you put the upper in a solvent bath, preferably one that is ultrasonic.

Liberals are a curious mix of communism and fascism, they want to destroy you but want to use your own money to do it.

Stretchin Gretchen leaves me retchin.
Vote Biden, he's slightly more alert then Ginsburg.

t44e6 Member Joined Feb 2012 Posts 645 EE 100% (29) NH, USA	Posted: 10/2/2020 11:08:27 AM EST I just toss the BCG in the ultrasonic and use a 16" pipe cleaner on the tube. Another reason I like piston guns.

clancey2651 Joined Sep 2009 Posts 282 EE 100% (1) MO, USA	Posted: 10/8/2020 7:29:43 AM EST I love gadgets. I am going to get one of these from Otis. They make some good stuff, and I am a gadget addict, so this will take care of that particular jones. If it actually works, even better. I will let you all know how it works.

Cressida Joined Dec 2008 Posts 285 EE 0% (0) TX, USA	Posted: 10/10/2020 11:17:36 PM EST Would rather put the money towards ammo, or cleaning patches..... Besides, when gun goes Boom, the port door is open shortly afterwards. Passes way more gas.

Where is that carbon hiding?

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