I have 90’s vintage integrally suppressed Ruger 22/45.
The unit is a Gemtech Quantum.
I called Gemtech today, and basically was told to consider it disposable. Sealed unit, no recommended cleaning procedure other than a bore snake!
It’s still quiet, but after a few thousand rounds it would seem desirable to get some of the build up of carbon that must be in there!
It has aluminum baffles, so ultrasonic is out. The unit is old enough that S&W didn’t get schematics when they bought the company, so Gemtech can’t even tell me if there are any seals or parts that might be damaged by solvents.
That pistol is my go-to plinker. “Disposable firearm” does not compute for me. Any suggestions?

My best suggestion is to have someone 'jailbreak' it.

Depending upon whether the end caps are merely Loc-Tited together or welded, it might be as simple as chucking each end into a lathe (headpiece and spider), and slowly turning the can.

George

If it were mine I would plug the end , fill it with electrical contact cleaner or similar , let it soak for a while , agitate it considerably , pour out whatever comes out then repeat the process as many times as I could be bothered.

The contact cleaner will evaporate and leave no residue to speak of .

I would just use powder solvent.

Any oil left over will, soon burn off beside a little oil will dampen sound while it lasts.

Soaking it in Kerosene of Ed's Red might help to loosen it up. Then try some typle of solvent or cleaner and do what muzza suggested.

If you have a sonic cleaner, put it in there.

That what we do here.

So m8ch junk comes out of them.

My understanding is that you can’t use ultrasonic with aluminum baffles.

Plenty of good suggestions, my first thought would probably be very hot or boiling water long as there are no plastic or rubber wipes inside. I wouldn't be concerned with getting it spotless, just reasonably clean.

quote:

Originally posted by Marty:
My understanding is that you can’t use ultrasonic with aluminum baffles.

Why??

Apparently you can with certain constraints.

https://www.kemet.co.uk/blog/c...g/cleaning-aluminium

Well, we have a large cleaning tank, and we clean everything in it.

Including aluminium sound moderators!

Never had a problem.

We generally use WD40 as cleaning agent.

This is done to avoid using water with some agent, because some parts we cannot open completely, and to avoid getting corroding agents - water - inside.

Gemtech seems like a company I don't ever want to deal with.

I would soak it in a mix of ATF and acetone or mineral spirits.The biggest worry isn't carbon build up but lead. Most solvents don't do a good job at dissolving lead and the ones that do aren't particularly friendly to aluminum. I doubt it's possible to get it hot enough to melt the lead out without otherwise damaging something.

Jailbreaking is a thought if you have a SOT nearby who can do it.

Many ultrasound units will damage aluminum, some severely.

Actually, the increased carbon buildup in 22 rimfire cans tends to make them quieter to a point.

The roughened shape of the deposits on the internal surfaces, not only increases surface area , but additionally has some sound dampening capacity of its own.

Past a certain point it may become detrimental.

In the past rimfire cans in general were considered expendable items.(not just GemTech)

Now many manufacturers produce take-a-part/ cleanable cans.

For a sealed unit I would fill it up with your favorite solvent and let it sit for a day then flush it and hit it with plenty of compressed air.

Ultrasonic will damage aluminum?

Just use aluminum compatible cleaning fluid!

Ultrasonic cleaning is for example used for aluminum made carburetors or injection units.

We use this: https://www.sonoswiss.ch/filea...tinfo_SW-C_T3_GB.pdf
Contains inhibitors protecting amphoteric metals (aluminium).

Jiri

I have a Ruger MKIII with integral suppressor made by SSK. JD Jones told me when I bought it to use only a wire brush in the suppressor every 200 rounds. I've done that for 6 years. Shot good enough to kill 3 rockchucks in ID last month at 99 yds. with subsonic ammo