Question regarding Ed's Red

[Maritime Storm]

I've used Ed's Red with great success for around ten years and am due to mix up a new batch. I'm wondering if it can be just as effective without adding the Acetone to it? Using ATF, Kerosene, and Turpentine in equal parts. What benefit does the Acetone add to the mix? Thoughts?

[pastorp]

Maritime Storm, I don't know what the Acetone does except that it is a powerfull cleaner. However if you change the formular will you really have Ed's Red?

My neice came to visit a couple years ago. The indian tribe I live with cook a dish called Kajumps, it's boiled fish. During my nices stay I fixed several local dishes which she enjoyed imesely. When she went home she tried to fix the dishes for her friends and family but changed some of the ingrediences.

She seamed suprised when her Kajumps did not taste like mine. Moral of the story. If you want the same results, don't change the recipe!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Regards,

[ShadowMover]

Acetone is there because it will dissolve smokeless powder. The other ingredients are all 'non polar' solvents. This is a chemist's way of saying they won't mix with water. Acetone is a polar solvent, and will mix with water. It has some of the same traits as the non polar solvents too, so it will mix with them.

I remember the recipe having Lanolin (oil from sheep wool) in it too. The lanolin leaves a nice polished sheen on metal, even after using an air hose to blow off the Ed's Red. Anybody else make a batch with Lanolin? I got mine from a drug store many years ago, but I saw it on the internet for around $8.50 a pound from places that sell soap making supplies.

[Maritime Storm]

Acetone does 3 things I don't like as well. 1. It eats stock finishes 2. It vaporizes easily. 3.it's really hard on my sinuses. I tried it without and it seems to work almost as good. I also  keep a can of acetone around for dealing with wadding issues should they crop up.

[pastorp]

Maritime, If you don't like the downsides of Ed's red then try what I use. Orange oil. I started using just the straight orange oil because it was the only oil my sister-in-law had in her cabinate. I had bought a old shotgun while visiting them and wanted to clean it up.
It worked so well that when I got home I looked for some to buy but all I could find was the orange oil/pledge wax formular. It works well so I still use that.

It cleans, protects, the metal & wood without hurting either finish. All I use now.

Regards,