Author Topic: What is your favorite gun cleaning degreaser? (Read 1123 times)

Johnboy1948 · « **on:** May 23, 2004, 01:41:40 PM »

What do you guys use for a degreaser on a really dirty action? Say, it's a used gun purchase and the action is really crudded up.

I have used the Birchwood Casey spray stuff. But it costs $6 per can, and it runs out of propellant before the liquid is gone. What a ripoff. I now buy carburetor spray cleaner for a 1/4 of the price per ounce. Both products are about the same stuff.

Both the Birchwood Casey and the carburetor cleaner have two drawbacks (besides their high flammability): They can remove paint (such as on a trigger guard). And a heavy dose can chill the gun metal so low that the gun starts to sweat (like the outside of a glass of iced tea); this could cause a rusting problem inside the gun action. If the gun metal gets too cold, I place the action under a 75 watt lamp to warm it up to about 100F for 30 minutes to evaporate any condensation. Then, I shoot oil into the action and wipe it semi-dry.

For metal or wood surfaces that the carburetor degreaser may damage the paint or finish, I use lighter fluid on a soft cloth. I have used lighter fluid for years and it has never damaged anything. The lighter fluid is excellent for removing sticky price tag residue on the wood surface.

Anybody got any good suggestions?

John

quickdtoo · « **Reply #1 on:** May 23, 2004, 03:57:49 PM »

WD40 makes a good cleaner for surfaces that carb cleaner is too harsh...denatured alcohol is also a good solvent and costs less than carb cleaner but carb cleaner is still probably the best choice.

Leftoverdj · « **Reply #2 on:** May 23, 2004, 08:50:33 PM »

Simple Green detergent about 1:4 with water works great in an ultrasonic tank. Brownells sells a detergent (Dicroclean?) that works fine in boiling water. I've never tried the Simple Green and the boiling method.

Spray Oven cleaner and a heat lamp works pretty good on oil soaked milsurp stocks you are gonna refinish anyway.

jgalar · « **Reply #3 on:** May 24, 2004, 01:34:05 AM »

brake cleaner is inexpensive and not as caustic as carb cleaner

Wlscott · « **Reply #4 on:** May 24, 2004, 03:37:45 AM »

Johnboy, I use carb cleaner also, but recently I started using Breakfree powder blast. It's a citrus based spray solvent and it works pretty good.
It doesn't run out of solvent before it runs out of propellant either.

I found it at Wal Mart.

safetysheriff · « **Reply #5 on:** May 24, 2004, 06:58:44 AM »

I would try Marvel Mystery Oil straight from the bottle -- because of how well it works 50/50 with Hoppe's #9 to clean the barrels on my rifles after I've been shooting. Maybe the 50/50 mix is even better....but I'm not sure what you're seeing on the rifle you bought.

I do use brake cleaner to clean grease out of the muzzleloader when I'm getting ready to use it. I put a coating of grease in the bore at the end of the season so it'll keep for the next 11+ months. The moly-type extreme pressure grease keeps rust away, but cleans up well with brake cleaner used outdoors.

Take care,

SS'

flatwoods · « **Reply #6 on:** May 26, 2004, 02:03:24 PM »

I've had good results using starting flluid(ether), but as with other types of these products be careful on plastic surfaces. It is also highly flammable.

De41mag · « **Reply #7 on:** May 30, 2004, 06:34:23 PM »

Johnboy;

Just started using Powder Blast by Break-Free. It comes in a 16oz. spray can with a red nozzle attachment like WD-40. If I remember correctly it cost $4.96 at Wally World in the hunting section.
I really like it because it dries quickly and leaves the metal clean and non greasy. I have a Ruger Model 77 MKII in 7.62X39 Russian and all I shoot is the Russian import stuff. After firing a couple of boxes of that stuff there is a lot of that red primer and bullet sealant in the guns action. I just spray the action and magizine down with it, then reoil the gun after cleaning. IMHO it is some really good stuff. :grin:

Dennis