Hoppes #9 will damage the Governor!

Stainz

Stainz

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A call back from a S&W CS guy this AM revealed that the Melonite finish on the Governor can be damaged by the trace amount of ammonia in som gun solvents/cleaners - like good old Hoppes #9! Is nothing sacred? I never thought a gun was clean without the stench of Hoppes #9. He did say Hoppes Elite - and regular/synthetic gun oils are okay, too. Wow. Check the label.

Who would want to damage their lovely Governor's finish? Gads!

Stainz
 
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I use Hoppes No9 on everything including my Governor and never experienced any finish damage. But then I don't soak the gun in the stuff.
 
I do believe the original and current formulas of Hoppes#9 have ammonia. Why else would you get the tell tale blue of the copper ammomnia complex when cleaniong with Hoppes#9?
 
Stainz said:
A call back from a S&W CS guy this AM revealed that the Melonite finish on the Governor can be damaged by the trace amount of ammonia in som gun solvents/cleaners - like good old Hoppes #9! Is nothing sacred? I never thought a gun was clean without the stench of Hoppes #9. He did say Hoppes Elite - and regular/synthetic gun oils are okay, too. Wow. Check the label.

Who would want to damage their lovely Governor's finish? Gads!
Click to expand...

Not me. Good info to know. I just got 1 of these babies a few weeks ago; I'd be bummed if I'd found out the hard way.

In checking out labels, noticed Hoppes cleaning kits are not U.S. made. :mad:

I was gonna get some more goodies for cleaning the Governor. And for other potential purchases.
 
Im curious,what is the finish made of that it will be damaged by Hoppes #9?And is this a legitimate concern, or is it S&W covering their legal butts from possible warranty issues unrelated to the actual risk of damaging the firearm with the solvent?
 
In original post, he said finish is made of Melonite. Just exactly what that is, I haven't looked up it's basic composition, but there ya go.
 
Melonite, also called Tenifer and several other names, is a finish that has been around for decades -- and a darned tough one. If #9 will hurt it, I'll drink a quart of the stuff.
 
Ammonia is present in some cleaners and used mainly to strip jacket fouling from the bore of high power rifles. Don't really see the need of it for routine cleaning jobs. Good old #9 doesn't have ammonia. My guns aren't really clean unless they sit in a tub of Hoppes #9 for about 24 hours(nickel excepted, of course!!!)
 
I clean the inside of the barrel and chambers with Hoppes, which are Stainless Steel. I do not clean the frame with it! My sweat, from prolonged concealment, is far more dmaging to that finish. At current rates, my 642 will rot off my hip in about 172 1/2 years.... It ain't about pretty... It's a tool to be used.
 
I'm beginning to see a disturbing trend here...another member with a model 442 had the same issue:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/209949-s-w-service-dept-dont-clean-642-revolver-hoppes.html

And here was my response:

Scratch one model of S&W for me. For those that get wound up about the IL and MIM parts, that means nothing to me. But this one is a non-negotiable (for me). I had a nickel plated 8 3/8" Model 27 for about ten years, and always cleaned it with Hoppe's. I sold it (stupidly) for more than I paid as it looked new and hardly fired some ten years later. My grandfather introduced me to Hoppe's in 1972; his experience with it was as a machine gun platoon leader in WWI and and Infantryman for thirty six years, and swore by the stuff. I'm a retired Infantryman myself, and swear by it also; I cleaned M16s, M1911s, M60s, M240s, M9s, M4s, etc. (you get the idea) with it for years, with excellent results.

Tell me I can't use Hoppe's No. 9 to clean a firearm? May as well tell me I can't drink German beer.
Click to expand...

As much as I would like to own a Governor, I don't see any reason to change my opinion. If a firearm is damaged in any way by Hoppe's, quality control alarm bells sound in my old retired brain. :rolleyes:
 
For those of you who plan to avoid buying a specific model of S&W because the use of ammoniated solvents is not recommended...the S&W manual states:

"Ammoniated solvents or other strong alkaline solvents, should not be used on any Smith & Wesson firearm."

I'm not claiming that any or all S&W firearms may be damaged by the use of such, just that S&W themselves say not to use such solvents on any of their firearms.

Tim
 
I'm continuing to use Hoppe's No. 9 and I expect my guns to like it or else!

This is what happens when inferior materials and processes are utilized to produce firearms for general consumption and the consumer failed to recognize the cheapening of firearms. We now have a whole generation who doesn't know the difference and buys into the notion of "cheapo" guns.
 
Well, I am not shocked at the dismissal of new S&W's as furthering evidence of poor quality control or cheaper construction methods. It is clearly opinion, however, and not borne from fact. Hoppes #9 is ammoniated - that's how it removes copper residue - and the copper substrate on the worn edges of that old nickel plated revolver, causing it's nickel plating to bubble and peel (... and you thought it was just old!). It also has a propensity to soften water-based lacquer clearcoat and even Melonite finishes. Knowing this now - is a good thing!

I have always connoted the smell of Hoppes #9 as being that of a clean firearm. I will still clean my SS and blued firearms with it - I still have a small supply. I will find Hoppes 'Elite' and try it on my alloy firearms, now including a 296 & 642 - and - my one in Melonite - the Governor. I understand S&W's caution against ammoniated solvent use on any S&W - a broad paint stroke is easier to implement than a touch up brush. Besides, I'll bet that they are tired of refinishing 442's & 642's for free!

Stainz
 
Hoppes #9 is probably the oldest, and most commonly used gun cleaner out there. If S&W, a long time gun manufacturer, and supposed quality one at that, cannot figure out a way to use a finish that will not be damaged by such an iconic and trusted cleaner, then there is something wrong. I've used the newer cleaners, and I still always feel the need to use Hoppes. Guns just don't feel clean to me if they don't have that Hoppes smell.
 
Pisgah said:
Melonite, also called Tenifer and several other names, is a finish that has been around for decades -- and a darned tough one. If #9 will hurt it, I'll drink a quart of the stuff.
Click to expand...

If Melonite is Tenifer....then there must be a ba-jillion Glocks that have been damaged. I just took a quick look at mine to verify the damage - but I could not find any. Lucky for me, I've been bathing my Glock in Hoppes for years.

Seriously - there are some very strong ammonia based bore cleaners available. All of the ones I have used warn against leaving it in the bore for more than XX minutes to prevent damage. They all also warn that it can damage the finish of firearms. I have never seen, or heard of, a firmarm actually damaged by one. I suspect that it is possible, or the warning would not be there, but also very unlikely.

Shooter686
 
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