I was advised to clean an Ithaca 59 with brake cleaner after removing the wood from the gun because perhaps it changes needs internal cleaning preventing proper ejection. It seems that I have read someplace that disc brake cleaner will damage paint. On the 49 the receiver is anodized aluminum alloy, not really paint and the barrel is blued. So, my question is...what are the precautions to take using brake cleaner fluid to de-gunk the guts of a gun. And...also...do I pour the stuff into the gun and let it run through and then let it dry and re-oil or..????? Thanks much for your help. I love this forum.
Brake cleaner use and precautions questions
- Thread starter moewadle
- Start date
- Status
I use carbureator or brake cleaner every time I clean a gun. I scrub everything down with Ed's Red and toothbrush then rinse with carb or brake cleaner. Won't hurt anodizing just keep off plastic and wood. I'm sure it would remove regular spray paint also.
plexreticle
Member
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2006
- Messages
- 1,240
I avoid the stuff with chlorine in it. I don't know if it matters though.
Marlin 45 carbine
Member
Iv'e read not to use it on molded plastic parts such as Marlin Camp trigger housings and other gun parts. myself I use kero in a nozzle bottle and stiff brush. works good for me.
Inspector3711
Member
I use chlorine free. The reason why is that it's less toxic. Works like a champ!
1 old 0311
member
I have used the cheapest Brake Cleaner sold, and have done so for 25 years. It DOESN'T damage, Blue, Stainless, Gold inlay, Parkerized, the Black paint CZ uses, or Glock frames.
WayneConrad
Member
Use the chlorine-free brake cleaner: The chlorinated cleaner will eat plastic parts. Even the chlorine-free cleaner is not entirely friendly to plastic parts, so minimize exposure of plastics (or finishes, paints, or anything not metal) to brake cleaner.
Use gloves.
Use gloves.
langenc
Member
Just follow directions on can--do it outside if at all possible. It evaporates in less than a minute.
Thank you everyone
for taking your time to help me. I really like this forum as I have learned so much. BTW, today I am driving to Des Moines from Eastern Iowa on I-80 and will take an 8 mile detour to Brownells (16 mile round trip) and buy one of those .22 chamber irons to remove burrs from rifle chambers caused by dry firing. Then I am going to get some brake cleaner and see if I can correct some ejection problems in three rifles I own. Thanks so much!
for taking your time to help me. I really like this forum as I have learned so much. BTW, today I am driving to Des Moines from Eastern Iowa on I-80 and will take an 8 mile detour to Brownells (16 mile round trip) and buy one of those .22 chamber irons to remove burrs from rifle chambers caused by dry firing. Then I am going to get some brake cleaner and see if I can correct some ejection problems in three rifles I own. Thanks so much!
scrat
Member
ok lets answer the questions now.
Most carb and brake cleaners are about the same. except the non chlorinated. Which means it has no chlorine. However most drinking water does. So in that respect buy what ever is cheaper. As for what to do. Brake cleaner and carb cleaner will eat away at petroleum, and plastics. Thus most wood finishes have some sort of petroleum (mineral spirits) in the finish. So you need to avoid getting it on there. Same thing with plastic. Now for its use on if you just pour it on. Well what you need to get is the spray kind. Now get the kind with the hose attachment. Most people myself included will attach the hose and put it in the inards of their guns and spray a few times. Then let it run out. you will quickly see all the black goop run out. Same with the barrel i run it down the barrel. gets a lot of the black funk out.
Now does this substitute for a good cleanining. (no)
However it makes it easier to clean and if you cant get to cleaning today it gets most of it out. After doing this though. i would still recomend a take apart cleaning. As you just removed all the lubricant from the gun. As far as the bluing as long as you wipe it when it gets on the gun it will be ok. i have never had a problem with the bluing as i quickly wiped it off.
Most carb and brake cleaners are about the same. except the non chlorinated. Which means it has no chlorine. However most drinking water does. So in that respect buy what ever is cheaper. As for what to do. Brake cleaner and carb cleaner will eat away at petroleum, and plastics. Thus most wood finishes have some sort of petroleum (mineral spirits) in the finish. So you need to avoid getting it on there. Same thing with plastic. Now for its use on if you just pour it on. Well what you need to get is the spray kind. Now get the kind with the hose attachment. Most people myself included will attach the hose and put it in the inards of their guns and spray a few times. Then let it run out. you will quickly see all the black goop run out. Same with the barrel i run it down the barrel. gets a lot of the black funk out.
Now does this substitute for a good cleanining. (no)
However it makes it easier to clean and if you cant get to cleaning today it gets most of it out. After doing this though. i would still recomend a take apart cleaning. As you just removed all the lubricant from the gun. As far as the bluing as long as you wipe it when it gets on the gun it will be ok. i have never had a problem with the bluing as i quickly wiped it off.
WayneConrad
Member
Another caution about brake cleaner: After you use it, there won't be the slightest trace of anything on the metal. What that means is that the metal will be prone to rust, and how. Even here in Phoenix, where the relative humidity is usually around 15%, metal you clean with brake cleaner can show traces of rust in only hours if you don't oil it. Don't delay getting that metal oiled after you clean it!
Funderb
Member
most importantly:
anything made of plastic will instantly die.
if you use brake/carb/electra clean on it.
anything made of plastic will instantly die.
if you use brake/carb/electra clean on it.
bluetopper
Member
I clean my pistols by immersing and cleaning with diesel and sometimes spraying with brake cleaner afterwards in stubborn areas.
Works great.
Works great.
Claymore1500
Member
My experience with brake cleaner, It will as was said take finish off of wood, it will eat plastics of some kinds, I have found that it turns aluminum black to a funky shade of grey in some cases, I would try to avoid using it on those finishes.
As far as blued guns "Have at it" I have used it for years with no problems.
I am a truck mechanic by trade and have had an almost infinate free supply of it, ( Side note, The clorinated stuff will drop bees in mid flight, but the other stuff just makes "em mad)
As far as blued guns "Have at it" I have used it for years with no problems.
I am a truck mechanic by trade and have had an almost infinate free supply of it, ( Side note, The clorinated stuff will drop bees in mid flight, but the other stuff just makes "em mad)
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