Many people question the purposes of solvent trap cups. There is so much information out there coming from many different solvent trap companies that state their solvent trap cups serve a variety of purposes, attempting to compartmentalize solvent trap cup functions in a way that would apply to all solvent trap products, would be futile.

Armory Den can’t speak for other solvent trap companies and has no interest in doing so. What we can do though is give our customers a run down on the purposes our solvent trap cups serve, which will naturally shed some light on the benefits of owning a solvent trap for firearm cleaning purposes.

Armory Den’s solvent trap cups or more specifically, our Dry Storage Cups, have three different styles: Dry Storage Adaptive Cups (modular design), Dry Storage K Cups and Dry Storage Standard Cups.  One thing you will notice on every one of our cup designs is they have no center markings or dimples. Our dry storage cups may differ in design, but are similar in that regard.

This is because Armory Den sells solvent traps strictly as a firearm cleaning accessory and does not make recommendations related to modifying our products, nor do we sell our solvent trap products with the intention of them serving any purposes other than Cleaning, Storage and Safety.

There is not only one ‘right way’ to use our dry storage cups when it comes to firearms cleaning. The most straightforward cleaning use is to insert however many cups you feel is necessary to allow adequate space at the muzzle size of the solvent trap for trapped solvent to gather. After you complete cleaning, you can disconnect the solvent trap from your barrel and then pour the solvent into another container for recycling or proper disposal. What some do is filter their solvent after trapping it during a cleaning session.

As you will read in the ‘Storage’ section below, this is how our dry storage cups can serve multiple purposes, especially when using them to store small items and cleaning supplies. Filtering used solvent will help remove debris and coarse elements so the solvent can be safely reused without wearing or possibly damaging your firearms during a future cleaning. Some will use storage cups on the sealed end cap side of the solvent trap to store small screen-like filters.

Before cleaning, these little filters can be removed from the dry storage cups towards the side opposite the muzzle and placed on top of a discard container, such as a small water bottle with the cap removed. After removing the filter and replacing the sealed end cap, you can complete cleaning your firearm. When complete, the solvent trap can be removed from the firearm and the solvent can be poured through the filter and into a discard container and reused again during a future cleaning.

Dry Storage K Cups are popular choices when deciding on a solvent trap due to their unique base, which helps tremendously when trapping solvent or transporting more than one type of solvent (i.e. CLP Oil, Lubricant, Rifle Bore Cleaner, etc.). Oil can be poured into each K Cup prior to placing the K Cups into the solvent trap. Different sections between K Storage Cups are sealed off so various lubricants can be transported without spilling into the other compartments.

After using your firearm, the solvent trap can be opened up and the K cups can be carefully removed in a vertical position and placed on a flat surface. Because the K Storage Cups have a flat base, they stand up (like a cup) holding the solvent upright.

Remaining cups that do not have any solvent in them can remain in the solvent trap, then as the firearm cleaning session begins the solvent can be poured out of the K cup into the firearms area or on cleaning materials used to clean the firearm or lubricate the firearm. The remaining cups inside the solvent trap will catch the newly used solvent for filtering or for safe transport or disposal later on.

There’ no wrong way to clean with a solvent trap!

As mentioned above, you can use dry storage cups, whether they are K Dry Storage Cups, Modular Dry Storage Cups or Standard Storage Cups. Cleaning patches, different types of lubricant, CLP oil, bore oil, and other cleaning related supplies can be sectioned off and stored in the dry storage cups and placed into the solvent trap, ready for their next use.

Some use dry storage cups to store prepper supplies, medications when on a hunting trip over a long weekend with friends, to disposable ear plugs. The fact that our quality solvent traps (especially our adaptive solvent traps) are air tight when closed and sealed. This keeps moisture and other elements out of the cup compartments when they are inside the solvent trap tube and screwed shut.

Many visitors ask why our solvent traps are made of stronger and relatively more expensive grade 5 titanium, while other solvent traps in our den are made of 6061 T6 and/or 7075 aircraft grade aluminum. Additionally, some of our dry storage cups are made of 304 stainless steel, while our modular solvent trap cups and tubes are made of either grade 5 titanium, stainless steel or 7075 type III hard coat anodized aluminum.

One of the main reasons for this is the different firearm caliber strengths. When transporting firearms with solvent traps already screwed onto the barrel of your firearm or even storing them in your home with the proper solvent trap installed, you add an extra layer of protection or safety.

Remember, if a round is discharged accidentally with a solvent trap installed, the bullet will have a lot of trouble piercing through all of the cups and out of the sealed end cap of the solvent trap. If firearms are higher powered, such as .308, 7.62×39, 300 Blackout or even a 5.56 NATO/.223, it is much safer to go with a titanium solvent trap with stainless steel cups, at a minimum.

We recommend going with a titanium modular solvent trap as each of the cups and the sealed end cap are made of grade 5 titanium, so there’s no way a bullet is passing through all of these layers on an accidental discharge!

You might be shopping around for a solvent trap, a useful and effective firearm cleaning accessory. However, there are certain precautions you should take before doing so. For instance, you should be beware of online companies who do not specialize in solvent traps and who reference links in their blogs directing visitors (like you) to overseas companies.

Overseas companies list both illegal and low-grade solvent traps. Purchasing illegal solvent traps can result in a felony charge as the product is tied to your shipping address upon purchase.

A monocore solvent trap is illegal and can result in a criminal offence when purchased because it has a hole in the center, and throughout the baffle. Monocore products are the ‘spiral looking’ solvent traps.

Again, we recommend refraining from purchasing these items or you might find yourself with an unexpected visit from the ATF, who will confiscate the item(s) on arrival. This is assuming your purchased monocore solvent trap makes it past customs. If your order is seized by customs, they will determine them to be under the ATF’s jurisdiction and send them to the ATF field office closest to your address and you will receive contact in person or a warning by letter.

According to a spokeswoman with the ATF, the purchase of a solvent trap is not illegal. However, if a solvent trap is constructed or has parts that the ATF deems are “intended” to make the device function as a suppressor (or silencer), it must be identified as such, and it must be appropriately regulated.

Do not be fooled with verbiage that Chinese companies use when they list their illegal products, such as ‘fuel filter’ or ‘fuel cleaning system’. Once the consumer inputs their shipping address and submits their order, you are tied to that product.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a list of what the ATF/NFA defines as a legal vs. illegal solvent trap, interpretations can be made based on ‘constructive intent’. The ATF works with their NFA FATD “Firearms & Technology Division” counterparts to analyze individual parts, as well as the overall design of solvent traps to determine if they should be deemed unregistered suppressors, which are essentially illegal firearms parts.

Using the ATF/NFA interpretations, it is very easy to conclude that monocore solvent traps are illegal unregistered suppressors from a ‘constructive intent’ point-of-view, because they have a hole through the middle of the ‘Monocore’ or ‘Single Core’ baffle. Even though foreign websites (like China) sell a majority of monocore solvent traps with a sealed end cap, you are still purchasing an item that will most likely be seized and deemed an illegal unregistered NFA item, due to the intent of the hole bored through the entire monocore.

Even though foreign websites (prominently in China) sell a majority of monocore solvent traps with a sealed end cap, you are still purchasing an item that will most likely be seized and deemed an illegal unregistered NFA item, due to the intent of the hole bored through the entire monocore.

One of the stances of the ATF/NFA that makes a solvent trap a ‘firearm accessory’, opposed to being an ‘unregistered suppressor’ is that a bullet cannot pass through the solvent trap. Monocore Solvent Traps sold in China have a hole through the entire baffle, making it easy for a bullet to pass through it and penetrate the end cap.

It is very important to note that Chinese companies are not bound by American laws, and it has been rumored that many of the Chinese suppliers include an end cap opener with their monocore solvent traps. This item screws on the end of the monocore in place of the sealed end cap and effectively “opens” the only sealed off passageway, providing a clear opening at the end of the monocore solvent trap, thus unambiguously converting it into an unregistered suppressor, for all intents and purposes.

Even if Chinese companies do not provide these ‘openers,’ the simple fact that they sell solvent traps with center-marks on their end caps(commonly referred to as dimples), combined with a monocore that resembles monocores on serialized suppressors which are sold by Gemtech, YHM, and others.

Monocore’s are viewed as unregistered suppressors and they are not legal to import into the United States. With the ATF/NFA, it comes down to ‘Constructive Intent’. If solvent traps are being sold with center markings or holes drilled through the baffles, monocores or end caps, then they are constructively being sold as unregistered suppressors.

The intended use of monocores, when analyzed relative to the consumer base, sellers content, and/or marketing strategy, is what the regulators consider. Most that are selling monocore solvent traps are obviously targeting the underground suppressor market. These legalities should scare the average person away from purchasing these monocore solvent traps, but surprisingly many Americans continue to buys these from shady companies and loose money from having it seized or paying court fines due to being charged with a felony.

If the legal issues involved with exporting monocore solvent traps from China isn’t a concern to you, the inferior 6061 T6 aluminum with very poor finishes should dissuade you from wanting to put them on anything more than an airsoft gun.

It is very important to note that Chinese companies are not bound by American laws, and it has been rumored that many of them include an end cap opener. This item replaces the end cap and provides a clear opening at the end of the monocore solvent trap, rendering it into a suppressor for all intents and purposes.

Armory Den does not, and will never sell illegal products such as: Monocore Solvent Traps, Storage Cups with Center-marks, and/or Storage Cups with Illegal Angles (not within legal parameters of the law).

Our end caps and storage cups do not include illegal center-marks and our cup angles are 60-degrees (used to catch residual solvent), which are within legal and known guidelines. Purchasing products overseas primarily results in felony charges as your shipping address will be tied to the illegal product once seized at customs.

Armory Den sells parts and products for solvent traps. Solvent traps are a “firearm accessory”. As a firearm accessory, they can be attached to the end of the barrel and with an adapter, as a cleaning accessory. Thus, they are not considered as anything other than an accessory because a bullet, or projectile, cannot pass through the tube without modification.

Only after getting the approved Form 1 back can you make any modifications to the product. A crime is committed if you make the alterations before obtaining the tax stamp. Do not make any alteration or modifications to our products before getting the approved Form 1 back.

Solvent traps can be purchased legally without a Form 1. However, you cannot alter, modify, or redesign them into a device for muffling, silencing, or diminishing the report of a firearm without first filing and receiving back from BATFE an approved Form 1 – Please be aware of the restrictions and regulations.

DISCLAIMER: This blog post is not legal advice. The information provided is for educational purposes only. Legal advice may only be provided by a properly licensed attorney. We strongly recommend you consult a lawyer. 

A solvent trap is a “firearm accessory”. As a firearm accessory, they can be attached to the end of the barrel and with an adapter, as a cleaning accessory. Thus, they are not considered as anything other than an accessory because a bullet, or projectile, cannot pass through the tube without modification. Therefore, because a projectile cannot pass through the tube the solvent can be captured and disposed of properly.

These devices have become extremely popular in the firearm community, and the demand for these products continue to grow in the industry. If you often clean your firearms, using a solvent trap can be very helpful if you wish to prevent a total mess. Solvent trap owners may reuse cleaning fluids at a later time, depending on the frequency of their routine maintenance.

The purchase of a solvent trap is 100% legal, without a Form 1. However, there are very important restrictions and regulations you must be aware of prior to purchasing these products. For instance, You cannot alter, modify, or redesign them into a device for muffling, silencing, or diminishing the report of a firearm, without first filing and receiving back from BATFE an approved Form 1. You must always be aware of the restrictions and regulations, especially within the state you reside.

Only after getting the approved Form 1 back can you make any modifications to the product. You will be committing a crime if you make the alterations or modifications prior to obtaining the paid tax stamp. A Felony Alert: Do not make any alterations or modifications to our products, or any solvent trap product or part for that matter, before getting back the approved Form 1.

To learn more, please review our ATF Legal Den and website Terms & Condition.

When shopping around, you will come across websites that provide links in their blogs that direct you to overseas companies who list low-grade solvent traps, or even worse illegal solvent trap kits. If you click a link that directs you to a page with “spiral looking” solvent traps, these are highly illegal and can lead you to a felony charge once seized at customs.

Don’t be fooled with the text, “fuel filter.” The law doesn’t care what an overseas manufacture calls it, they care about who made it, and who purchased it! Think twice when you are inputting your shipping address, because once you hit submit, you are tied to that illegal product.

Armory Den takes pride in selling legal solvent traps. We do not sell illegal solvent traps or products such as:

• Monocore Solvent Traps
• Storage Cups w/ Center-Marks (aka ‘dimples’)
• Cups with illegal angel parameters.

Our end caps and storage cups do not include illegal center-marks and our cup angles are 60-degrees (used to catch residual solvent), which are within legal parameters and within known guidelines. Purchasing products overseas may result in felony charges as your shipping address will be tied to the illegal product once seized at customs.

Solvent traps are devices that can be attached to the threaded muzzle of a firearm in order to capture the fluids that are used to clean your rifle and/or pistol. Cleaning your firearm regularly can help improve performance, and help improve safety and reliability.

Solvent traps have a female threaded end, so that you can attach it to the threaded barrel of a firearm, the male end. Although solvent trap kits have various designs when it comes to aesthetics, they also have mechanical designs. For instance, if you are looking to purchase a steel solvent trap, you should first understand the mechanical design needed for your firearm.

Once you have an understanding of the product that will be comparable with your firearm and/or other firearm accessories you own, only then should you  choose one based off the aesthetic design. Remember, the main idea is to catch cleaning fluids from the end of the barrel so that you alleviate the mess during bore cleaning processes, etc.

Unlike a AR-15 which comes standard with a threaded barrel, all pistols without a threaded barrel will need to purchase one in order to use this device. Again, all solvent traps come with the threaded end, the female end. This way it can attached and work properly.

A solvent trap does not have a hole for a projectile, or a bullet to pass through. Solvent traps are a ‘firearm accessory’ made for cleaning your firearm, such a bore cleaning processes. Solvent traps are for trapping solvent to make the cleaning process easier and/or more efficient. Catching solvent is the purpose of a solvent trap kit, legally and mechanically. Frequent cleaning can also improve the performance of your firearm, as well as make it more safer and reliable.

Catching solvent is the purpose of a solvent trap kit, legally and mechanically. Frequent cleaning can also improve the performance of your firearm, as well as make it more safer and reliable. A suppressor on the other hand, is a device for muffling, silencing, or diminishing the report of a firearm.

Armory Den sells high-grade solvent traps that are 100% legal. Our products are tested and go through quality control testing prior to delivery. Moreover, our high-grade products are sold without center-marks (dimples) and within the legal degree parameters. Between the sales from both our customers and our dealers (members of our Dealer Den), our volume be allows us to offer the most competitive prices on the market!

Armory Den is a U.S. company that carries the best quality solvent traps, firearms cleaning kits, accessories and parts. We are proud of our quality control, with our research team constantly updating the best and lowest prices in the industry.