Dura Coat -- learning the hard way.

[Sam1911]

Just a quick piece of info for those who do use DuraCoat.

Brake Cleaner and Carb Cleaner are not the same thing and have a VERY different effect on DuraCoat.

I've had my AKS-74 in DuraCoat for years now, and always cleaned with hot water, Hoppes, brake cleaner, and/or ATF.

Today after a match I grabbed a can of CARB cleaner off the shelf.

CARB cleaner is a PERFECT STRIPPER for DuraCoat. Watched it blister and slough off before my eyes!

I have a half-(very) bare AK now.

Will be using KG Gun Kote when I get around to replacing the finish.

 

[Nappers]

I used that for cleaning the oil pan on a previous car and the paint on the oil pan blistered and was nasty.

Once I used Brake Cleaner to clean, well my Craftsman brake tools. The brake cleaner melted the handles and looked terrible!

I did discover that if I sprayed a red rag with brake cleaner and wiped once down the handle, it brought it back good as new.

lesson learned.

I hear ya!

 

[MtnCreek]

Thanks for the heads up on the carb cleaner. Why are you going with Gun Kote when you re-do it?

The brake cleaner melted the handles and looked terrible!

Supposedly, the non-chlorinated brake cleaners won’t harm plastic.

 

[Sam1911]

I've used a lot of Gun Kote in the last year or so. It is much thinner and seems a lot tougher. I also like the KPhos "primer" system used with KG Gun Kote.

I just have to decide whether to go with another basic-black traditional look or if I want to do a more modern looking color scheme.

I tend to believe that tastes and color schemes are like shag carpet, and you'll likely eventually find it falls out of fashion.

On the other hand, doing the rifle in flat dark earth, and the bolt carrier and other small parts in black (to match the polymer furniture) would look pretty cool.

We shall see...

 

[Blanco]

Just curious if Carb cleaner has the same effect on Cerakote? I have tested Cerakote in the past with some harsh cleaners and solvents with no ill effects. Got me wondering....

 

[Sam1911]

I've never used Cerakote so I can't say.

FWIW...I'm not spraying carb cleaner on any coated items in the future, no matter what they're coated with!

 

[Skylerbone]

I've used the old style carb cleaner in a paint can (dip method, and yes, on a carburetor) and it's nasty stuff. Anything that eats the shelving and floor tiles at O'Rileys ought not be used on firearms, the fumes alone can kill migrating birds.

 

[FruitCake]

Carb cleaner is alot nastier than brake klean.
Whenever i paint any gun parts and i dont like the way it came out i just reach for the carb clean and it brings it back to metal in no time.
Actually just did it today with an 870 barrel.

 

[pat701]

I new had a problem with brake cleaner on mine.

 

[T Bran]

A bit off topic but Brakleen is my weapon of choice when wiping out wasp nests. Hit the nest with one shot and they dont even wiggle just drop like stones. The big plus is it is an extended range weapon that will easily reach the eaves of my house.
I like multi use products and Brakleen is one of my favorites on guns as well as bugs that sting.
T

 

[Nullcone]

Got to love the aromatics.

(I'm assuming it's the substituted benzene derivatives that are doing the nasty work)

I've never felt the urge to grab that heavy-duty of a solvent to clean a gun. Then again, I've been told I don't clean mine often/well enough...