Degreaser?

[wormbobskey]

Anyone have any recommandations of a good degreaser I can use to clean my rifle prior to camo'ing it?

[fatercat]

brake parts cleaner at wal-mart

[wormbobskey]

I've got some of that. Works good does it?

[Bugflipper]

I use carburetor cleaner. It also works good in semi auto rimfires that get that nasty residue throughout the action.

[wormbobskey]

I was in k-mart today and found some heavy duty engine degreaser for half the price of the brake cleaner. Will this work?

[JustaShooter]

BTW, as I understand it you need to make sure it is non-chlorinated brake cleaner. Problem is, I can't remember why... 

[wormbobskey]

The engine degreaser I got at k-mart is non-chlorinated, why I don't know, but saw a couple different degreasers and they were all non-chlorinated.

[Bugflipper]

Heck I can't see what it would hurt. The only thing I'd advise against is acetone for guns if they had plastic parts and oven cleaner as I have seen people use them on engines and it eats the paint off. Paint thinner, vinegar, arm and hammer washing powders, lemon juice, about anything around the house could be used as a degreaser. I've never used engine degreaser on a gun but it works great on gas or diesel and doesn't effect plastic or paint so it should be fine. I'd test a small spot under the hand guard and check an hour later no matter what I used though. I do that with any new chemicals I'm not certain of.

[wormbobskey]

I'm wanting to camo my ar. I like the flat black, but want to break it up a little with some tan, brown and olive drab. This is going to be my dedicated coyote rifle and we all know how sharp their eyes are. I'll take your suggestion Bugflipper and try it under the hand guard to make sure there is no adverse chemical reaction.

[JB Weld]

Carb cleaner might be a better option. It is primarily Methanol. Brake cleaner is a mix of solvents and they are more powerful.
The Methanol will decrease just fine and it is cheaper as well.

Just Google "brake cleaner, phosgene" and it will come back with some interesting results. Brake cleaner can be some nasty stuff if not used correctly.

[wormbobskey]

Are you saying the carb cleaner will evaporate better, leaving less residue than the brake cleaner? I always used alcohol to clean and degrease prior to painting anything thing. Camo'd my 870 20 some years ago and it has held up over the years, but definitely needs redone.

[JB Weld]

Carb cleaner is primarily Methanol (which is an alcohol).  I have painted several guns and the Carb Cleaner / Methanol always worked great.  It will be safer to use than the Brake Cleaner and cheaper.

If you want to scrub on the metal you can always get 91% isopropol alcohol in the pharmacy section of WM or any other box store. Just soak a lint free cloth with it and get to rubbing (if you have a spot with heavy build up.  It would leave very little if any residue.  Don't use the 70% though, it would probably work, but you will have more residue with it than the 91%.

Also, the method of painting I have had the most success with is "heat curing high temp ceramic engine paint".  Google it and there is a bunch of instructions on the web.  Just make sure you have your wife's permission before you put your gun parts in her oven.

[Bugflipper]

The alcohol made me remember I wiped a 10-22 down with an alcohol prep pad. The paint has stayed on fine, even on the rubber coated hogue overmold stock for several years now. Assuming they are just the isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol.

[wormbobskey]

JB Weld, your getting into something that's a little more detailed than I want to go. I'm also not sure that some of the "plastic" parts on my AR would take to much heat. As to using the stove, I would have to send the wife on a long weekend get away to be able to do it. All of my "guy stuff" is not allowed in the house. Being as how I'm a full time trapper I understand her not wanting most of my stuff in the house. I saw on ShootingUSA TV show that there is a shaker can camo paint kit that can be bought I think from Brownell's. The kit I used on my 870 20 some years ago was made just for camoing guns and bows. I have a couple cans of camo paint ready to go as soon as the outside temperatures allow me to use it. My only concern now is to make sure the paint will adhere to the gun parts. Sounds like carb cleaner is going on the next shopping list, that and rubbing alcohol

[JB Weld]

It sounds like you have a good plan!

[theratdog]

don't get carb cleaner on plastic parts. i have used it as a degreaser i have used a lot of starting fluid but out side and don't smoke.