Carb Cleaner and Blue
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bountyhunter
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It can't hurt the finish. But, for blue guns, you would be better off using a light oil or preservative product to wipe it down. Carb cleaner (mostly acetone) strips oil and leaves the metal bone dry which makes it set up for rust.
cgt4570
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I've used both carb cleaner and brake cleaner with no ill effects to blueing. As stated, just protect it properly after cleaning.
I use the Tetra Gun spray for difficult to clean areas. It is a spray solvent and light lube.
http://www.tetraproducts.com/product_view.asp?ID=3
http://www.tetraproducts.com/product_view.asp?ID=3
shovelwrench
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Watch any painted things, like sights. It'll take it right off.
Other then that, I think carb and brake cleaner work great on handguns. Get an old toothbrush too, helps save the spray can.
Other then that, I think carb and brake cleaner work great on handguns. Get an old toothbrush too, helps save the spray can.
Alk8944
US Veteran
For old gummed up guns I use one of the dip type carburetor cleaners, Chemtool is one of them. It comes with a basket. Disassemble, put parts in the basket and put it in the can and let soak for 30 minutes or more. Then take the basket out, hose off the parts with hot water from the sink sprayer and dry thoroughly while they are hot. Takes off everything except rust and bluing. The cleaner emulsifies with the water.
Won't hurt bluing, but I wouldn't guarantee it for Nickel plate. Shovelwrench is absolutely correct about paint and plastic parts.
I have been doing this for over 30 years, and generally on what would be classed as antiques. Absolutely guarantee it will clean better than anything else and do no harm. Just be sure to oil thoroughly afterward as the gun will be totally stripped.
FWIW, Cylinder & Slide sells a cleaning kit which is virtually identical except it leaves an oil film on the gun. Costs lots more too.
If you are asking specifically about the spray type cleaners, they won't hurt anything either. They are all chlorinated or non-chlorinated hydrocarbon organic solvents. Birchwood Casey sells a product called "Gun Scrubber". It is identical to most of the spray carburetor/brake/electrical cleaners except it costs a lot more and comes in smaller cans!
Won't hurt bluing, but I wouldn't guarantee it for Nickel plate. Shovelwrench is absolutely correct about paint and plastic parts.
I have been doing this for over 30 years, and generally on what would be classed as antiques. Absolutely guarantee it will clean better than anything else and do no harm. Just be sure to oil thoroughly afterward as the gun will be totally stripped.
FWIW, Cylinder & Slide sells a cleaning kit which is virtually identical except it leaves an oil film on the gun. Costs lots more too.
If you are asking specifically about the spray type cleaners, they won't hurt anything either. They are all chlorinated or non-chlorinated hydrocarbon organic solvents. Birchwood Casey sells a product called "Gun Scrubber". It is identical to most of the spray carburetor/brake/electrical cleaners except it costs a lot more and comes in smaller cans!
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bountyhunter
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Be careful. Berryman's chemtool is OK for steel but it will attack aluminum. I put some spark plugs in it and it dissolved the surface of them.
Alk8944
US Veteran
No, it won't harm Aluminum! Most carburetors are made of cast Aluminum and this product is made specifically for the purpose of cleaning them.
Don't know what the plating on your spark plugs was, probably Zinc Chromate or Cadmium. Chemtool won't hurt Zinc Chromate either, most carburetor linkages are plated with Zinc Chromate and they go in along with the body! And spark plug bodies are definitely not Aluminum, they are plated steel. How did you get from it removed the coating on a spark plug to it will attack Aluminum?
Andy Griffith
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The only thing that I will say is that most any of the cleaners mentioned will take the clear coat off of any of the currently manufactured alloy frame revolvers from S&W and Taurus. It will also cut the "violin varnish" applied to bone charcoal case hardened guns from S&W, Winchester and Marlin (typically done by Doug Turnbull).
It won't attack the aluminum or the case hardening itself, but it just takes off the protective layer of coating, whatever it is in each case. Your 642 will look awful and scratch easily, and your prized case-hardened revolver or rifle will not have that "just oiled" look to it, and is more susceptible to rust.
Now, this typically doesn't go for chemically case hardened guns such as the Ruger Vaquero, single barreled shotguns, etc.
It won't attack the aluminum or the case hardening itself, but it just takes off the protective layer of coating, whatever it is in each case. Your 642 will look awful and scratch easily, and your prized case-hardened revolver or rifle will not have that "just oiled" look to it, and is more susceptible to rust.
Now, this typically doesn't go for chemically case hardened guns such as the Ruger Vaquero, single barreled shotguns, etc.
bountyhunter
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I don't know what got eaten, but it sure chewed up some NGK spark plugs where the stuff was getting on the metal.
raw6464
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Reds Bore Cleaner... been using it for years. http://home.comcast.net/~dsmjd/tux/dsmjd/tech/eds_red.htm
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