I recently acquired my first M&P, a 45, 4.5". I assume one should not use any cleaner with acetone in or near the polymer frame. I conducted a search and found nothing on the subject. Does anyone have any official word or experience with the issue.
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Acetone effect on polymer?
- Thread starter gboling
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Comrad
Member
Most acetone is made during the production of phenol. Phenol is mostly used to make polymers like plastics. I am pretty sure it would eat your gun. It's really a paint, varnish, nail polish remover, what are you trying to remove? There are kinder gentler solvents out there.
Tell me if I'm wrong
My understanding is that Glocks are made of Nylon 2 ® which Glock developed. Check out this chart.
http://www.newmantools.com/pipestoppers/NYLON_chem_resistance_nt.pdf
Nylon isn't affected by acetone but some compounds are disasterous.
We need to figure out what S&Ws are made of.
Update: It sez that M&Ps are made of Zytel®
Here is a chart for Zytel® but I can't find C3H6O (acetone) under the ketones. I'll shop around.
http://www.harwil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/6-Plastic-Resins.pdf
I think I just found out that Zytel® and Nylon® are two trade names for the same thing. Of course there are various grades and I don't know which one they use.
My understanding is that Glocks are made of Nylon 2 ® which Glock developed. Check out this chart.
http://www.newmantools.com/pipestoppers/NYLON_chem_resistance_nt.pdf
Nylon isn't affected by acetone but some compounds are disasterous.
We need to figure out what S&Ws are made of.
Update: It sez that M&Ps are made of Zytel®
Here is a chart for Zytel® but I can't find C3H6O (acetone) under the ketones. I'll shop around.
http://www.harwil.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/6-Plastic-Resins.pdf
I think I just found out that Zytel® and Nylon® are two trade names for the same thing. Of course there are various grades and I don't know which one they use.
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Why would you use acetone on your gun?
Then again it may be one of the ingredients along with toluene, mineral spirits in brake clean. And many folks use brake clean to clean their guns.
I would never use it on any of the plastic parts though.
MEK is another product that I would keep away from the composite parts. That stuff is brutal.
I see some of the harsher products stripping the petroleum product from the polymer over a period of time and doing some damage. Mineral spirits being the worst I would use on them.
Then again it may be one of the ingredients along with toluene, mineral spirits in brake clean. And many folks use brake clean to clean their guns.
I would never use it on any of the plastic parts though.
MEK is another product that I would keep away from the composite parts. That stuff is brutal.
I see some of the harsher products stripping the petroleum product from the polymer over a period of time and doing some damage. Mineral spirits being the worst I would use on them.
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What would cause this inquiry? Something wrong with Hoppes Solvent and Break Free CLP for lube? Just use those, and nothing bad will happen. Acetone is not a gun cleaner, is it?
SpringGunTunes
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A great cleaner for cutting oil off polymer guns is Mass Air Flow Sensor Cleaner from your local auto parts store. It's safe on all plastics but cuts oil and grease very well. Just be sure to blow dry before it cools off and gets condensation (water) on the parts.
Rob
Rob
Smith357
US Veteran
I use Ed's Red bore solvent which contains 25% Acetone. I have always kept it away from plastic, painted, and wood parts, learned the hard way by melting inserts for a globe front sight. If I let some sit open in a dish the acetone evaporates quickly and then can be used on anything.
DWalt
Member
Acetone will affect different plastics differently, but it should have no effect upon Nylon. MEK is a ketone chemically very similar to Acetone. At one time, I did a lot of gun bluing, and discovered that a good metal wipedown with MEK cleaned far better than the standard method of degreasing of steel parts by boiling them in a silicated detergent prior to bluing. Bluing problems dropped to nearly zero when MEK was used. Acetone and MEK are also great for removing old wood finishes, such as on gunstocks.
We have to consider......
Besides M&Ps, some plastic or rubber grips are really affected by solvents in general.
Besides M&Ps, some plastic or rubber grips are really affected by solvents in general.
Lee Jones
Member
Solvent cautions
The first thing to worry about is what these chemicals will do to your body.
All this stuff is bad for you, vent your work area well.
Lee Jones
The first thing to worry about is what these chemicals will do to your body.
All this stuff is bad for you, vent your work area well.
Lee Jones
Gun Scrubber in the aerosol can and Winchester Aerosol spray cleaner, as well as Ed's Red have acetone in them. I have used them for years on revolvers and third gen. autos but never on the stocks.
I was thinking of cleaning the striker channel wit an aerosol spray that will not damage the frame.
I was thinking of cleaning the striker channel wit an aerosol spray that will not damage the frame.
