“Use CLR,” they said, “Leave it overnight,” they said.

I recently learned that cleaning centerfire suppressors was a good idea and the round count of mine was far beyond when it was recommended. Thunder Beast recommended filling the can with CLR, leaving it overnight, then flushing with water, and repeating the process if deemed appropriate. One thing they cautioned, though, was not leaving the CLR in contact with the direct mounting threads for a long time because it would etch the metal.

Although TBAC will clean their suppressors for free once a year (except for shipping), I decided to go the DIY route. I found a small rubber plug to close the end cap hole and (fortunately) a suitable glass container to stand the can up in while it was soaking. I used a glass funnel to keep the CLR off the threads as I was pouring it in.

To my surprise, though, as soon as I poured the CLR into the suppressor it started foaming up and out the top, so that’s my question: Does that always happen when using CLR to clean a suppressor? (I have never used CLR before; does it react that way with everything?)

After cleaning everything up, I decided to try it again, thinking that perhaps it wouldn’t repeat. I poured in much less the second time, but it still foamed up and out the top, so I don’t know how it would be possible to keep the CLR off the mounting threads if the can were filled enough to clean the entire interior after the foaming stopped.

Comments/experiences?

My experiences with CLR are the same as yours. Yeah, lots of foaming and it takes a few cleaning applications before the foaming goes away. I make sure to wipe the threads down after they get foam on them. So far, my threads don't appear to be etched.

Use an adapter with Teflon tape to protect the mounting threads. Sacrificial adapter - keep the suppressor threads intact.

quote:

Originally posted by SIGfourme:
Use an adapter with Teflon tape to protect the mounting threads.

Great idea. Thanks. (I even have a couple of adapters for the metric-threaded rifles I no longer own, and have long wondered if I would ever find a use for.)

I used it a few months ago to clean a thunderbeast silencer. It was a simpler task for me because I use mine on one of their CB mounting brakes. As such, my entire can is titanium so I didn't have to worry about contacting a piece made of steel.

I plugged the end with a rubber stopper and filled it up. Black foam and all kinds of gunk came out. I flushed it thoroughly with water and repeated, and it came out impressively clean. Almost like new.

Flush it, shake with some water in it, flush it, shake some more. You will keep shaking out bits that were loosened by the solvent for much longer than you will likely expect.

How do you know the CB version is all titanium. The TB specs don't seem to say one way or the other. The FAQ suggests that since they don't mention protecting it like the direct thread. Is it obvious when you look at it (my Ultra is not near me).

I’ve used CLR on all my suppressors I usually take a foam ear plug in the one end stand in upright and fill up the suppressor slowly just below the threads making sure the foam does touch the threads and leave it for a few hours.Then rinse with hot water until all the black carbon stops coming out.then dry it out with compressed air.