Cleaning your gun

[1Ameet]

Can you use alcohol?

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[bionic knees]

On the gun or while cleaning?

 

[Yarome]

I tired it once, but found I had some spare parts after reassembly. Ever since I've opted to wait until after before partaking.

Short answer: Yes, but to be aware it doesn't do real well with grease (if present).

 

[Knobgoblin]

I remember my last drunken parts install. A butter knife left a nice furrow in my kitchen table.

 

[thorborg]

On the gun or while cleaning?

Good question, I prefer Tequila.
For the other, you can, but I prefer nonvolatile degreaser mostly water base limiting fumes since I mostly clean in the basement.
In the shop I use alcohol in my sonic cleaner sometimes but even then mostly soaps and water base stuff of a variety.

 

[FATAL125]

Can you use alcohol?

Why would you want to...?

Actually, nevermind...

The answer is yes... You can use gasoline too...

 

[Certaindeaf]

Can you use alcohol?

It's good for cutting waxes, not sure about the rest. I wouldn't bother.

Ed's Red is ATF (automatic transmission fluid) and acetone.

 

[washagonian]

.

 

[DLS]

To clean a gun, one can use any solvent or diluent that will not harm the underlying materials. That does not mean they all will work to the same level of efficiency. So, yes you can use alcohol, but there are better choices.

 

[PORSCHE928S4]

Ummmmm do not use brake cleaner on a blued firearm unless you want it to be silver this is what a friend told me also said it burned when he peed don't know what that is about !

 

[stlhd2]

A lot of people use top engine cleaner also. Lots of different things you can use, IF used correctly

 

[Member 53867]

It's good for cutting waxes, not sure about the rest. I wouldn't bother.

Ed's Red is ATF (automatic transmission fluid) and acetone.

...and kerosene and mineral spirits. Been using it for 30 years. Great stuff.

 

[gmerkt]

Alcohol may be used for cleaning, but as others have said, there are better chemicals for that purpose.

IF you use alcohol, be aware that it has no preservative qualities and if you don't follow up with some kind of petroleum based (or synthetic) coating, metal surfaces cleaned with alcohol will rust. Alcohol is water based; imagine if you wiped down a firearm with water and left it.

 

[Member 24198]

To clean a gun, one can use any solvent

You rang?

 

[Member 53867]

Just don't use The Dip. Easy to make, supposed to work great at removing lead from suppressor baffles, but the results are toxic. Makes lead acetate (bad) which can absorb rapidly through skin (very bad). Can dissolve aluminum, possibly damages titanium. Requires disposal at a toxic waste facility.

I was going to make some, but decided it wasn't worth the risk.

 

[hongkong2]

 

[Member 53867]

View attachment 1930467

I used to think she was really hot. Until that one time I saw her blink. Creeped me out, man.

 

[Yarome]

View attachment 1930467

What's wrong with that? I know folks that use the dishwasher, especially on their BP smoke makers.

I don't, but all reports say it works quite a treat.

 

[orygun]

Ummmmm do not use brake cleaner on a blued firearm unless you want it to be silver this is what a friend told me also said it burned when he peed don't know what that is about !

I've used brake cleaner many times. I don't use it on the external surfaces, but I've never detected any bluing loss. Brake cleaner is not rust remover, which would damage the finish in short order.

 

[arrowshooter]

I use it after the Hoppe's and before the ole. It removes the rest of the cleaning solution that dry patches didn't get.