A warning to those that use "brake-clean" to clean your guns.

[The_Truth]

Seems like the plus side to using gun specific products is you can bathe your gun in it and not fear doing any damage. I only shoot 100-150 rounds at a time anyway and meticulously clean regularly, so I suppose I don't really need anything more than Hoppe's. Maybe I'm old fashioned.

The scent of Hoppe's alone is worth any markup on the product IMO

 

[Univibe]

What really makes gun cleaning easy is an air compressor. You can get a pancake compressor designed to run nail guns at a construction site for about $100. It will put out plenty of air to clean guns. (I have a big Campbell-Hausfeld belt drive unit, but it's mega overkill for guns). For that money, all shooters should have one.

Blast 'em good after using cleaning products liberally.

 

[Black Sunshine]

Hoping someone can help identify. In the early 1970's, I used a foam gun/lube in a spray can that had the pleasant vanilla smell to it. Anyone remember this gun cleaner and can you help me ID?

Was it in a black can with rounded upper end of can? The one I'm thinking of had a nice smell, but it reminded me of bananas...but I can't think of the name of it...

 

[gman51]

Brake clean,acetone and carb cleaner are not made for cleaning plastics or wood finishes. If you want to see grips made of plastic or wood grips finish become gummy just go ahead and use them. I don't allow any of these cleaners to get on anything that is not metal.

You darn straight want to wear eye protection before using and wash your hands after using any of them or you could be visiting a doctor because body parts you touched with your hands can get really bad chemical skin burns. That has a lot to do with why mechanics wash their hands before unzipping rather than after zipping up. Just remember what these chemicals can do to plastic and wood finishes they can also do to your skin.
I had a corroded pliers with rubber covered handles that I couldn't open. I soaked the pliers in acetone and atf mix and the pliers still will not open and the rubbers covers are ruined now also.
I also learned 409 cleaner can really mess up a car windshield. It leaves like a haze wherever the cleaner is applied. Had to use a razor blade to remove the haze. It was sort of like I had smeared paraffin wax on the windshield. Then I read the label and sure enough it said do not use on glass. Yep read the label cautions before using anything or you could think dang did I ever make a mess and screw that up.

 

[handejector]

Seems like the plus side to using gun specific products is you can bathe your gun in it and not fear doing any damage. I only shoot 100-150 rounds at a time anyway and meticulously clean regularly, so I suppose I don't really need anything more than Hoppe's. Maybe I'm old fashioned.

The scent of Hoppe's alone is worth any markup on the product IMO

I don't know about the "new" Hoppe's, but the old stuff would dissolve varnish in a second!

So, don't forget to pull your wood grips when cleaning.
And a tip for other old dudes- don't forget to unzip!

 

[CH4]

On a positive note, now I know what to use when I want to refinish wood grips.

 

[handejector]

I also learned 409 cleaner can really mess up a car windshield. It leaves like a haze wherever the cleaner is applied. Had to use a razor blade to remove the haze. It was sort of like I had smeared paraffin wax on the windshield. Then I read the label and sure enough it said do not use on glass. Yep read the label cautions before using anything or you could think dang did I ever make a mess and screw that up.

WOW, dude! You READ the directions??
TURN IN your man card!

 

[bigggbbruce]

Things that brake cleaner can ruin:


2. Clear plastic magazines like 10/22 banana mags (found this one out the hard way)
3. Some older plastics made in the pre-polymer era

I used it one time to clean a transmission connection for the main electronics, it completely disintegrated in seconds..

 

[oneounceload]

I don't know about the "new" Hoppe's, but the old stuff would dissolve varnish in a second!

So, don't forget to pull your wood grips when cleaning.
And a tip for other old dudes- don't forget to unzip!

I prefer to wear to wear gloves for protection

 

[moosedog]

Another thing which we use a lot during the summer which can ruin the finish of grips/stocks is many forms of insect repellant. Get it on your hands and it will put permanent finger prints on pistol grips in a matter of a few minutes.

 

[Black Sunshine]

Hoping someone can help identify. In the early 1970's, I used a foam gun/lube in a spray can that had the pleasant vanilla smell to it. Anyone remember this gun cleaner and can you help me ID?

Was it in a black can with rounded upper end of can? The one I'm thinking of had a nice smell, but it reminded me of bananas...but I can't think of the name of it...

The stuff I am thinking of is called TriFlow...still available, slightly different packaging....they may have had a foam, but the stuff I used was a spray lube.

 

[lkabug]

I don't know about the "new" Hoppe's, but the old stuff would dissolve varnish in a second!

So, don't forget to pull your wood grips when cleaning.
And a tip for other old dudes- don't forget to unzip!

But the old dudes here must also remember to also zip-up also.
Dang! We old guys have so much to remember.

 

[tdan]

I only use the CRC red can mainly to blast out my cylinders. It will not affect Hogue rubber grips. I have not sprayed wood grips with it as it is a solvent. Another great use for it is to drop those big Florida cockroaches dead in their tracks. It will not leave a mark on your painted walls like some bug sprays will. No garage should be without this stuff.

 

[Steve912]

Old T-shirt, q-tips for cleaning. Brake cleaner for degreasing before
refinishing, or on a new-used gun (with lots of accumulated grunge).