Brake or Carb cleaner > Maintenance & Cleaning

Posted: 9/1/2004 3:56:04 PM EDT

Which should I use to clean my AR? I've heard to use NON chlorinated brake cleaner. That's what I've been using to clean my pistols, Prestone from Wal Mart. Only bitch is it leaves little white residue spots here and there.

Posted: 9/1/2004 4:01:02 PM EDT

[#1]

Currently available carb cleaners leave a slimey, oily residue. Brake cleaner does not. I use brake cleaner on carburators, and very nasty guns.

Posted: 9/1/2004 9:56:13 PM EDT

[#2]

Try Shooters Choice PSD "polymer safe degreaser". It is brake cleaner but it does not harm plastice, paint or wood finishes and drys fast! It's the best stuff out there and bran new so it will catch on in due time.

Posted: 9/1/2004 9:59:56 PM EDT

[#3]

I use Valuecraft brake cleaner, 99 cent lots of pressure behind it too.

I also use thier carb cleaner for killing spiders and starting fluid for wasps.

Posted: 9/1/2004 10:10:47 PM EDT

[#4]

Brake cleaner (non-chlorinated), CRC greeen works great

Posted: 9/2/2004 6:59:15 AM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:
Brake cleaner (non-chlorinated), CRC greeen works great

Where do you get it? CRC seems familiar.

Posted: 9/2/2004 7:00:24 AM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
Which should I use to clean my AR? I've heard to use NON chlorinated brake cleaner. That's what I've been using to clean my pistols, Prestone from Wal Mart. Only bitch is it leaves little white residue spots here and there.

I used to get the white residue, but it goes away after a light coat of CLP.

Posted: 9/2/2004 8:51:16 AM EDT

[#7]

1,200 psi pressure washer. works for me.

Posted: 9/2/2004 9:17:19 AM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
1,200 psi pressure washer. works for me.

Ihaven't had a real reason to try it, but I'm curious what a dry vapor steamer will do for cleaning a gun. Link

Posted: 9/3/2004 10:44:13 AM EDT

[#9]

Be carefull with true brake cleaner as it will damage plastic parts and wood. PSD by Shooters choice will not but you get the same effects as BC.

Posted: 9/3/2004 11:45:43 AM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Brake cleaner (non-chlorinated), CRC greeen works great
Where do you get it? CRC seems familiar.

NAPA

Posted: 9/3/2004 12:10:23 PM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
Be carefull with true brake cleaner as it will damage plastic parts and wood. PSD by Shooters choice will not but you get the same effects as BC.

I've seen lots of folks on Glocktalk.com use it without any trouble. However, I wouldn't use it on my Glock frame as their is no need to.

How much is PSD vs brake cleaner? I can pick up brake cleaner locally for $2, I don't know where I can find PSD without having to pay shipping and order it online.

Posted: 9/5/2004 5:07:39 PM EDT

[#12]

I tend to stay away from carb cleaners except for cleaning the booster on the 1919A4 (this is actually a drill press, wire brush and scraper job ... hammer and screw driver is fired a lot) as the carb cleaners tend to contain some of the same solvents as paint remover.

Different brands of brake cleaners, contain different solvents. Thus if you find one that works, would be careful changing. I always check the label and if possible the MSDS for the exact product. For anything with plastics or paint, best to stay away from the acetone in addition to the same meth chloride family found in the carb cleaners.

If you can get a brake cleaner with petroleum distillates and alcohols, tend to be a little easier on plastics / paints.

Posted: 9/5/2004 5:24:10 PM EDT

[#13]

I picked up some off brand brake cleaner from Wal Mart for $1.68. The label says it leaves no residue, it was next to the Prestone brake cleaner I was previously using.

Posted: 9/5/2004 5:33:01 PM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
I picked up some off brand brake cleaner from Wal Mart for $1.68. The label says it leaves no residue, it was next to the Prestone brake cleaner I was previously using.

FWIW, I use that as well. The white left behind after some brakecleaner is easily cured with CLP.

Don't ask me how I know.

Danny

Posted: 9/5/2004 6:34:02 PM EDT

[#15]

I 've never had a problem with ol' cheap carb cleaner . I don't use it on the nice wood or plastic it WILL ruin it . I learned this back in '87 .

Posted: 9/5/2004 7:20:12 PM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:
Quoted:
I picked up some off brand brake cleaner from Wal Mart for $1.68. The label says it leaves no residue, it was next to the Prestone brake cleaner I was previously using.

FWIW, I use that as well. The white left behind after some brakecleaner is easily cured with CLP.

Don't ask me how I know.

Danny

The residue doesn't bother me, but if I can find some residue free stuff I'll stick with it.

Minuteman, Primus is the brand. Is that the stuff you have an does it leave a white residue? I say residue, but it's more like small white spots of residue.

I rarely use the stuff, just on trigger groups and the striker channel on my Glock from time to time.

Posted: 9/5/2004 7:39:47 PM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
I picked up some off brand brake cleaner from Wal Mart for $1.68. The label says it leaves no residue, it was next to the Prestone brake cleaner I was previously using.

FWIW, I use that as well. The white left behind after some brakecleaner is easily cured with CLP.

Don't ask me how I know.

Danny

The residue doesn't bother me, but if I can find some residue free stuff I'll stick with it.

Minuteman, Primus is the brand. Is that the stuff you have an does it leave a white residue? I say residue, but it's more like small white spots of residue.

I rarely use the stuff, just on trigger groups and the striker channel on my Glock from time to time.

I'm using Primus now, and Prestone previously... Both non-chlorinated. Both do a good job. Just remember to lube good afterwards and watch that plastic

P.S. Don't get it all over you.

Danny

Posted: 9/5/2004 7:49:00 PM EDT

[#18]

Just remember to lube good afterwards and watch that plastic

P.S. Don't get it all over you.

Danny

Roger that, I never use it on anything but metal. I found out the hard way about Trijicon night sights.

Trijicon replaced it under warranty though.

Everybody defenitely should wear blue nitrile gloves made for chemicals. ordered mine from www.uline.com These chemicals we use are defenitely hazardous to our health. I don't walk around with stinky hands all day anymore either

Posted: 9/5/2004 7:53:07 PM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:
Just remember to lube good afterwards and watch that plastic

P.S. Don't get it all over you.

Danny

Roger that, I never use it on anything but metal. I found out the hard way about Trijicon night sights. Trijicon replaced it under warranty though.

Everybody defenitely should wear blue nitrile gloves made for chemicals. These chemicals we use are defenitely hazardous to our health. I don't walk around with stinky hands all day anymore either

Our livers will thank us later!

Danny

Posted: 9/5/2004 8:00:10 PM EDT

[#20]

I like to use starting fluid/ether. Not quite as aggressive, but it doesn't harm plastics/wood/other finishes.

Cheaper that brake/carb cleaner too.

Posted: 9/6/2004 7:43:39 AM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:
Everybody defenitely should wear blue nitrile gloves made for chemicals. These chemicals we use are defenitely hazardous to our health. I don't walk around with stinky hands all day anymore either

Our livers will thank us later!

Danny

Wish I had known that a lot sooner. Guess it's my fault for not reading the labels.

der herr. If anything comes up I'll just say it happened in the .mil and get it added to my VA check.

I guess nobody has any experience with the steamer? Looks like I am going to be the guinnea pig on that one... I just need to dirty a gun enough to warrant trying it. Sounds like to job for my Ruger P89... the gun I care the least about. Anyone care to donate a case of 9mm for the tests.

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