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Brake cleaner for gun cleaning?

PathfinderPathfinder Member Posts: 25 ✭✭
edited October 2001 in Ask the Experts
I've heard that brake cleaner, which is normally used for removing brake dust and costs half as much as Gun Scrubber, is a suitable replacement for more expensive gun cleaning products-such as Gun Scrubber. Has anyone tried it?
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Comments

  • Ross C. McDonellRoss C. McDonell Member Posts: 36 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Works great. Bill Wilson even recomends it in some of his videos.
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  • nunnnunn Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,084 ******
    edited November -1
    I use house brand brake cleaner or carb cleaner from AutoZone for .99 a can.
    Certified SIG pistol armorer/FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Egotistical Rogue, Evil, Dangerous Racist Moderator of the General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Email davidnunn@texoma.net Jesus is Lord!
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  • jonkjonk Member Posts: 10,121
    edited November -1
    Never tried it, I'll have to. I have used carb/choke cleaner that you pour in the gas tank as a bore solvent with good results.
    Wenn alles richtig ist, dann stimmt 'was nicht. -Nena (When everything is going right, something is bound to be wrong.)
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  • idsman75idsman75 Member Posts: 13,398 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Does the carb/choke cleaner work as a copper solvent?
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  • lrarmsxlrarmsx Member Posts: 791 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Be careful where you use it. I've seen it take the "white", out of white dot sights. Some plastic grips don't fair too well either. Just something to keep in mind.
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  • competentonecompetentone Member Posts: 4,696 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I use brake cleaner all the time, but ONLY if the ingredients are listed on the label.Some brake cleaners contain water--which I do NOT use (although if you were cleaning after using corrosive ammo, the water could help you!); most are primarily acetone with propane for the propellant--which is all some "gun/action" cleaning products are too--except those products marketed for guns are a lot higher priced.Even cheaper (I'm very "thrifty") is using acetone with my own compressed air; I can buy a gallon of acetone and a few cents of electricity, for the compressed air, for the same price as a few ounces of the brake cleaner.For bore cleaning, I still use Hoppes #9, partly for tradition (the smell is right to end the day with), but it also contains solvents which help remove copper fouling. And safefy of course: USE ALL SOLVENTS IN WELL VENTELATED AREAS; KEEP AWAY FROM HEAT AND FLAME; REMEMBER THE SOLVENT VAPORS ARE HEAVY AND CAN SETTLE AND/OR ACCUMULATE IN LOW AREAS--BE AWARE OF PILOT LIGHTS ON WATER HEATERS, FURNACES, ETC.
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  • Guns & GlassGuns & Glass Member Posts: 864 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Carb cleaners (many) leave a residue of the carrier, and a light liquid lubricating film. They are designed to cut, dilute, and then wash/flush awayAs do some brake cleaners. The small orfice in the tube increases discharge speed, and concentrates flow. Better cleaning power.NOTE: liquid fasteners will not "stick"to parts cleaned with solvents leaving residue!!!! It is ok to do initial cleaning of greasy, oily, etc. parts because they're strong. But finish cleaning with a non-residue solvent( I use Acetone, and electrical contact cleaner to finish), then wipe/rub with a clean cloth when using liquid fasteners.Try doing some base/scope ring screws on a white cloth until they're totally cleaned.Can take a few times to clean out the threads. NOTE...CAUTION: For those of you who use "Q-Tips"/swabs, be sure NOT to use anything but cotton if cleaning optic lenses. Many "Q-Tips"/swabs/cosmetic puffs(balls) are made of polyester fibre. It can scratch soft lens coatings, and plastic lenses which are used in many cheaper scopes, and binoculars. Hard to "see" with the human eye, but it affects light transmission. READ LABELS, and READ the Safety Warning in the above post. He's right!!!!!!!
    Happy Bullet Holes!
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  • bartobarto Member Posts: 4,734 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    brake cleaner is a complete degreaser-allways oil after using!
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  • jonkjonk Member Posts: 10,121
    edited November -1
    The carb cleaner removes some copper, but it is really better on powder fouling and lead. I only use it on certain military rifles with pitted bores that are difficult to clean. Don't get any on the outside bluing, or on plastic as it will discolor or pit. Gasoline also works in an extremity as a bore cleaner of excellance.
    Wenn alles richtig ist, dann stimmt 'was nicht. -Nena (When everything is going right, something is bound to be wrong.)
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  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,593 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I just use Butch's Bore Cleaner and don't worry about all the things other solvents might have damaged if I used them. One should avoid using alcohol or any other solvent or cleaner on optic glass. They can damage the coatings reducing light transmission. Best is clean soft dry leather, a Lens Pen or very soft cloth and a drop of water.
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  • roundballroundball Member Posts: 75 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Carb cleaner is very risky to a variety of things like plastic, paint, etc, but I've used brake cleaner successfully for years on rifles, shotguns, handguns; After using it and it's evaporated, I spray with WD40 to reimpregnate the pores in the metal to prevent any rust from forming.
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