Miscellaneous Tools
R: Required
r: Recommended
O: Optional
Brushes (r)
Brushes will help you loosen fouling and carbon from various places in your gun. We recommend nylon brushes to avoid scratching the finishes on your gun and components. If you choose to use bronze brushes, use caution where you scrub.
Picks and Scrapers (r)
Plastic picks and scrapers can help remove stubborn fouling and carbon buildup. The ones that we recommend come with brushes, including nylon and bronze. Use caution when using the bronze brushes. They will scratch finishes.
Compressed Air (r)
After you’ve loosened buildup in your lower receiver, you may have a tough time getting it out. A can of compressed air (or a compressor, if you have it nearby) can help get the loose crap out of your lower.
Cleaning Mat (r)
A cleaning mat gives you a padded place to put your gun and parts, and provides some protection to the surface underneath.
The mat that we recommend comes with integrated parts tray (including a magnetic compartment; we recommend NOT using this, as it can magnetize parts, which can then attract metal filings).
Parts Tray (r)
A dedicated parts tray can allow you to spray and soak parts without getting solvents and oils everywhere.
We strongly recommend avoiding magnetic parts trays. They can magnetize small parts, which will then attract metal filings. This can be a problem for parts that you need to move freely.
We recommend a soft tray that is resistant to solvents and oils. Silicone is an ideal material.
We recommend the Glock trays, because they are widely available and meet all of our criteria for a good parts tray.
Borescope (r)
A borescope is useful during the building process, especially for gas block alignment.
It is also a useful tool for inspecting the bore of your barrel.
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