AR Sponsor
Posted: 2/17/2005 7:17:58 PM EDT
| Does anyone use brake cleaner instead of Gun scrubber to clean the weapon? |
Keep it away from plastic. And if the part in question is painted, you might not want to use it for that. Otherwise, I haven't had any issues using it for everything else. Just make sure you re-lube everything completely since the brake cleaner will totally strip any oil. ETA - how's the rifle running, Eight?? Hope you're enjoying it!!! 
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I usually just use it on bolt/carrier and the bore. I always wait till it dries and then hit it with CLP imeadiately afterwards. It also works real good when you doing any gunkoting or other type painting. Soak the whole part in it and its ready to paint as soon as it dries. |
The ONLY problem I can see with properly used solvents like brake cleaner is that some people won't properly protect their newly absolutely brand-spanking-new cleaned parts. Bad idea. Clean, dry, OIL. In that order, and without delay inbetween. |
Is the 3M chlorinated or non-chlorinated? I've used Gun Scrubber (trichlor), and now I'm using Berryman's brake cleaner (tetrachlor), but I don't get a residue. |
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I use the GUNK brand of non-chlorinated brake cleaner. I clean (scrub) my firearms with solvents or cleaners (Hoppe’s or CLP). Take the weapon outside and blast everything (dirty solvent) off with the break cleaner. Blow all the remaining parts off with the air compressor. The stuff does evaporate very quickly, but this gets it all completely dry very fast. Then re-oil with CLP or RIG depending on the weapon. It used to be that I would only use the brake cleaner on what I thought to be “tougher” firearms, military type, firearms that are parkerized or hard coat anodized like the arfs, M14s, FAL, etc. it wasn’t until a few months ago that I used it on a blued Ruger 22/45; didn’t hurt the finish at all. I later used it on a couple 1911 Colts and a few other blued firearms. The stuff I’m using doesn’t do anything to harm a blued surface. It’s great. |
Gus, it's awesome. I've taken it out twice so far. My Aimpoint should be here today! |
That's exactly what I do - i clean everything including the barrel with Hoppe's or other copper solvent as needed, then I use the brake cleaner to flush out the crap left after cleaning with Hoppe's, and especially get around the barrel lugs and the chamber (after cleaning them with a brush).The last step for me is to run a patch soaked with CLP followed by a dry patch or two through the barrel. |
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I sure hope you guys are not using regular brake cleaner. It contains Trichlor, and will eventually remove the anodizing and melt certain types of plastic, not to mention completely ruining optics. NON-Chlorinated brake cleaner will work safely. Personally, I use this stuff from Menards/Home Depot called QD Contact Cleaner made by CRC. It is plastic safe, removes gunk like grease and oil and evaporates very rapidly. I use it on everything from my RC cars/planes to printed circuit boards. I worship the stuff. In the end, be carefull with regular brake cleaner. Get NON-Chlor type if you'd like to be safe. |
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Our drill instructors would secretly bring in cans of brake cleaner for us into the squad bay to help us speed up the cleaning process, opening up more time for instruction and drill. Interestingly, the armorers were pissy about us using anything other than CLP, brushes, and elbow grease to clean our M16's with, but the drill instructors said that brake cleaner was safe, and that the armorers were being overly-protective. Who do I trust, the drill instructors or the armorers? Well, my DI's were all combat vets, one from Nam and the other three from "the 'Rut", and they all claimed to have used brake cleaner in the field. I subsequently used brake cleaner for my 12 years in the Corps, and had no ill effects. Armorers are good guys, and very knowledgable, but once in the fleet, I found that most of 'em used brake cleaner to clean the M16's they were paid to clean (you know, you go to the range and don't want to spend the week cleaning your own M16 for the required two hours a day, so you slip the armorer $20 and he rips up your property receipt). They also used sonic cleaners in which you dipped the entire M16 into... no plastic, though. That thing really worked wonders! |
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