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Is oil filter or solvent trap as suppressor?

by stlurkerKevin on December 10, 2022

Since suppressors are not inexpensive and there is a 4 to 6-month waiting period to apply for a Form 4. The suppressor has yet to be handed over to you during this process. The dealer can only keep it. As a result, some people have to wait and then receive some dusty inventory piled up for a year or two. By applying for a form1 to make your suppressor, you only have to wait 4 to 6 weeks to get approved. This route has aroused the interest of a large number of people. Many choose oil filters or solvent traps as the original model to modify.

 

What is an oil filter?

An oil filter is designed to remove contaminants from engine oil, transmission fluid, lubricating oil or hydraulic fluid. Generally, it consists of a sealed metal housing with an internal paper filter element. Since the filter element that filters contaminants are rough paper, we can also use that to reduce noise. Some people have been inspired to adapt it into a homemade form 1 suppressor kit.

 

Can you use an oil filter as a suppressor?

Yes, you can, but it's not recommended.

Can you use an oil filter as a suppressor?

As you can see in the picture, this is a modified oil filter, and it does have a decibel reduction effect. But the downside is obvious, and it is very large, so large that it even affects your line of sight when shooting. To you, the hunting or training time brought a great negative impact.

One more thing, the available oil filter has several holes at the top, the centre hole is used to collect the oil flowing in from the engine, and the hole next to it is for the filtered oil to flow back to the engine.

However, when the oil filter is modified to the suppressor. The holes on the side need to be better sealed. These holes are the spray that goes straight to your face and the device. When you shoot, the gas explosion is caused by the airflow, and some micro-particles go straight to your face. If these holes are not sealed properly, it will seriously affect the life of your equipment. Most importantly, it poses a great threat to your safety.

 

What is the difference between a solvent trap and a suppressor?

The solvent trap collects residual contaminants from the muzzle when cleaning the firearm and is a very environmentally friendly device. The suppressor is used to collect the gas and noise generated by shooting.

Therefore, the internal structure of the two is very similar. The biggest difference is that the suppressor has a central hole at the end. The bottom of the solvent trap is sealed so that it can save the cleaning fluid. Remember, do not buy a solvent trap without a seal, as this will result in a high risk of taking it to jail.

 

Can you use a solvent trap as a suppressor?

Yes, you can do that. But be sure to wait until the ATF Form 1 approval before modifying the solvent trap.

A solvent trap as a gun cleaning device can be attached directly to your muzzle, even without an adapter. And there is only one hole in the top cap for muzzle attachment. No need to worry about it being a threat to you. With just a small modification, it can be used as a suppressor and has an excellent noise-reduction effect.

And the market solvent trap, to have an excellent service life, commonly uses GR5 titanium, 304 stainless steel or 7075 aircraft grade aluminum as raw materials, making it not bad corrosion resistance and durability.

To summarise, comparing the two, I recommend using solvent traps as the raw material for homemade suppressors.

DIY silencers are not difficult, but building your silencer requires you to follow the same process as building a registered legal short barrel rifle (SBR) or short barrel shotgun (SBS).

Be sure to note that building your suppressor requires the same paperwork, stamp duty, and background check as a standard suppressor. Although these suppressors are less expensive than the standard option, they require individuals and gun trust owners to go through all the same steps to purchase a replica product.

You must be aware of the regulations. You will need to obtain an approved Form 1. You must pass a background check and pay a $200 stamp duty before you can begin manufacturing suppressors.