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Magnet to remove the piston

4274 Views 24 Replies 16 Participants Last post by  eldog84cadi
I thought I remembered someone stating that they use a magnet to take the piston out. Anyone here doing that?

I honesdtly use a boresnake to clean my SCAR barrel. So, I only assemble the cleaning rod to knock the piston out. And, I always have to look for it, as it doesn't fit in my normal cleaning kit gear.

A magnet would be much easier. I assume that just the occassional use of the magnet wouldn't magnetize the piston over time, would it? I have heard of metal slowly becoming slightly magnetic when left on a magnet for a while.
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I made a dozen or so little tools that were a brass pin in a plastic block. The plastic fits on the rails of the upper to line it up, and the BCG acts as the 'hammer'.

I never saw much response in terms of how badly people wanted these, presumably because the cleaning rod works well enough that there is no need for a better solution.
I have a magnet that I use once in a while to get the piston out. If the piston is really dirty I doubt the magnet would work. However I clean mine after every time I shoot. So about every 100 rounds.

I think this is the one:

18" Telescoping Magnet
I use the force to move objects I cant reach with my fingers or a .125" Diameter length of welding rod to push it out from the back side.
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I made a dozen or so little tools that were a brass pin in a plastic block. The plastic fits on the rails of the upper to line it up, and the BCG acts as the 'hammer'.

I never saw much response in terms of how badly people wanted these, presumably because the cleaning rod works well enough that there is no need for a better solution.
That would be cool. I was just trying to find an easy solution that didn't make me get the cleaning rod out when I don't usually use it to clean. Good idea that was.

I may go to Lowes and try to find some strong magnet there that might work. Like someone else mentioned above, I too clean the piston each and every time I shoot the gun. I have about 750 rounds thru it since Sept 2013. Just threw 80 rounds down it a week or two ago.
I use the force to move objects I cant reach with my fingers or a .125" Diameter length of welding rod to push it out from the back side.

I always suspected the Force was strong in you. But which side? :wink:
I always suspected the Force was strong in you. But which side? :wink:

Being EVIL is so GOOD.
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Small allen wrench works perfect.
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Small allen wrench works perfect.
Next time i take it apart, I'll give that a shot.
Don't worry about it becoming magnetized. The heat will remove any temporary magnetism that it may have received.
The firing pin works too.
Not easy to get a replacement right now, if you damage the firing pin.

Wouldn't use that, only last option.
Isn't that kind of risky?
As long as you aren't prying anything with it, it's fine. A gentle push through the cooling slots and into the cylinder is all it takes.
This works perfect for me, its brass and the wife hasn't noticed yet

Cat Table
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Ok, the Allen wrench thing worked.

i ordered a new piston assembly, and just wanted to drop it in to make sure all was well...

Allen wrench was fine to get the old one out.

The new, unused piston sits tighter - since it's never been used at all. So, while I got that one out with allen wrench too, it was a bit harder to push that one out.

anyway, thanks for telling me. I needn't mess with the cleaning rod pieces again :)
I made a dozen or so little tools that were a brass pin in a plastic block. The plastic fits on the rails of the upper to line it up, and the BCG acts as the 'hammer'.

I never saw much response in terms of how badly people wanted these, presumably because the cleaning rod works well enough that there is no need for a better solution.
Art:
I have one of your tools and it works great. I'm surprised that more folks haven't ordered one of these!! It sure makes
the job easier.
Small allen wrench works perfect.
I use this magic every time.


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Allen wrench also. I rarely remove the piston but it works fine when I do.
A "canning" magnet also works well. It can be purchased at a feed n seed hardware store or other place with canning goods. It has a handle on it and should do the trick.
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