Of course gunscrubber seems to be like 8 bucks a can. I'd like to use the 99 cent carbureter cleaner from the local auto parts store, but I can't stand the thought of it melting my guns...they all seem to say 'avoid plastic or rubber'. Does anyone have any experience using solvents other than gunscrubber with good results?
Polymer-safe Gunscrubber alternatives?
- Thread starter zahc
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Bottom Gun
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I use brake and carb cleaner.
sm
member
Air
Either a air compressor or a can of compressed like used to clean keyboards and such.
If the gun has been carried , collected dust, lint and nelphs, just take apart, blow out, and re-lube.
After shooting, use a CLP, clean with toothbrush, pipe cleaners, and cotton swaps, blow out, and if need, just a smidgen of lube where need.
Ballistol is non toxic, many prefer this proven CLP that goes w-a-y back.
Breakfree liquid and G96 also work, and we have not had a problem with polymer guns.
Heck, I/we have been using air forever, even before Polymer guns come out.
Back then, Browning had a gun oil , in a tin can I liked and used a lot...
Either a air compressor or a can of compressed like used to clean keyboards and such.
If the gun has been carried , collected dust, lint and nelphs, just take apart, blow out, and re-lube.
After shooting, use a CLP, clean with toothbrush, pipe cleaners, and cotton swaps, blow out, and if need, just a smidgen of lube where need.
Ballistol is non toxic, many prefer this proven CLP that goes w-a-y back.
Breakfree liquid and G96 also work, and we have not had a problem with polymer guns.
Heck, I/we have been using air forever, even before Polymer guns come out.
Back then, Browning had a gun oil , in a tin can I liked and used a lot...
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When I run out of brake cleaner, I use WD-40 and a nylon brush. If you soak it with WD and brush it with a toothbrush or a gun cleaning stiff bristle nylon brush, I have found that it will clean up just about anything.
WD-40 is a solvent more than it is a lube. It will dry pretty quick so you will need to lube the gun as well. I clean with WD and then I wipe it dry. I let it sit for as long as I can and come back to it a few times to work the action and keep wiping off any WD. When it is pretty dry, I will apply grease or a heavy oil to the moving parts. You can use a heavy grease because the WD will dilute it a bit if there is any left on the gun. You kind of have to play it by ear and it is not as complex as it sounds.
WD-40 is a solvent more than it is a lube. It will dry pretty quick so you will need to lube the gun as well. I clean with WD and then I wipe it dry. I let it sit for as long as I can and come back to it a few times to work the action and keep wiping off any WD. When it is pretty dry, I will apply grease or a heavy oil to the moving parts. You can use a heavy grease because the WD will dilute it a bit if there is any left on the gun. You kind of have to play it by ear and it is not as complex as it sounds.
Kevin108
Member
I tend to clean with Simple Green and prefer to lube with Militec 1.
Darth Muffin
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Brake cleaner. It's like $2 a can at wally world. Test it on a tiny spot of your plastic and gun's finish before you go to town. It may remove paint markings and will remove ALL traces of grease and oil anywhere on the gun.
Blow it dry with compressed air and then oil it well--at least a wipe on/off oil of all metal parts, they'll need a protective coating afterwards.
Blow it dry with compressed air and then oil it well--at least a wipe on/off oil of all metal parts, they'll need a protective coating afterwards.
Spray nine. Douse, let it soak for about 3 minutes or so, scrub with a brush in fouled areas, douse some more if you have to. Rinse it off while scrubbing and your done.
I've used spray nine on all kinds of plastics without any problems.
I've used spray nine on all kinds of plastics without any problems.
Gtscotty
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- 3,635
I actually have a similar problem as the op, I have a new Beretta neos that needs its first cleaning, as much as I would love to just hit it with brake cleaner and gun oil, i'm afraid I would just wind up with a puddle of goo (formerly the grip). I believe the grip on the neos is not of the normal pistol polymer formulation (probably a cheaper plastic), and im not sure what cleaners would be safe to use. Simple green sounds good, but it is a water based solvent right? so what do yall do about displacing the residual water when you are done? Also, does anyone know whether m-pro 7 or eezox or break free clp would be kind to cheaper plastics or not? Ive been considering this problem for a while, but didn't figure it warranted its own thread, I would appreciate any thoughts yall might have. Thanks.
mrmeval
Member
CLP did no harm to the Neos. I've not tested it with acetone containing ed's red yet.
Sir Aardvark
Member
They actually sell "Synthetic Safe" GunScrubber.
Follow the link:
http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0037557227899a.shtml
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/15876-15049-1968.html
Follow the link:
http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0037557227899a.shtml
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/15876-15049-1968.html
P97
Member
I use Eezox on my Polymer Rugers and Nylon Remington 66 and it doesn't hurt them. I don't know about others.
Clemson
Member
Beware of Ed's Red on Polymer guns. At the Glock Armorer's School, I was told that Automatic Transmission Fluid will react with the Glock polymer compositon, in particular the firing pin chanel liner, which can turn to goo. ATF is a component of most Ed's Red formulations that I have seen.
Clemson
mjrodney
Member
One of these days, my doctor is going to tell me he discovered an abnormally high concentration of Hoppe's #9 in my bloodstream.
If I can't reach it with a Hoppe's #9 soaked patch, I'll hit it with a supply of Hoppe's #9 in a small spray bottle and let 'er drip out.
Wipe clean or blow dry.
If I can't reach it with a Hoppe's #9 soaked patch, I'll hit it with a supply of Hoppe's #9 in a small spray bottle and let 'er drip out.
Wipe clean or blow dry.
Joe Demko
Member
Simple Green is destructive to aluminum. The manufacturer does not recommend it for use on aluminum. For that reason, I eschew its use on guns. Gunscrubber is expensive, so I tend to avoid it too.
Ballistol, which was already mentioned, is great stuff and will do nothing harmful to any metal or plastic gun components. If you mix it with hot water and soak a frame in it, you can watch the crud breaking loose and floating to the surface. As frame dries from residual heat, it is left with a coat of cleaner/protectant.
Ballistol, which was already mentioned, is great stuff and will do nothing harmful to any metal or plastic gun components. If you mix it with hot water and soak a frame in it, you can watch the crud breaking loose and floating to the surface. As frame dries from residual heat, it is left with a coat of cleaner/protectant.
spencerhut
Member
Hoppes Elite does not hurt the plastic on any of my guns. Not that I have many plastic guns. 
Just my Walther P22 and the S&W 22A and 3913 TSW.
Just my Walther P22 and the S&W 22A and 3913 TSW.Carb cleaner (and some brake cleaners) is often just ether and denatured alcohol.
Just watch out for the chlorinated solvents.
You can also use 'Snap start', 'quick start' or whatever brand is available.
Outdoors for anything with ether. It is VERY flammable.
Just watch out for the chlorinated solvents.
You can also use 'Snap start', 'quick start' or whatever brand is available.
Outdoors for anything with ether. It is VERY flammable.
sm
member
Joe Demko's Post No. 15 raises a question with these New Non-Tox and "Green" Cleaners.
Define "Non-tox".
There has been arguments about Simple Green actually being "safe" for humans.
Has to do with the wording and "definition" of terms.
Simple Green is NOT the only one of these cleaners NOT recommended for Aluminum.
MPPRO 7, Ultra-Klenz, Hoppe's "Green" , Gunzilla...etc...
These new products have fancy buzzwords , marketing, and the ones I have been around so far, act like "soap" to me.
In fact remind me of Murphy's Oil Soap, just a whole more expensive!
What gets me is, for too many years guns were cleaned and maintained without fancy stuff.
Firearm Chemicals are NOT that big of a market in comparison to what these Re-Packaged Products really are.
Why bother with it?
Oh I know Money is one reason. I mean Militec started out as a Chain Saw Lube, then it was figured out it could sell for Big bucks for ounce if re-labled as a firearm product, and especially if "troops are getting kilt" was hyped all over the damn place.
I personally feel 99% of all these products are not needed and are just Wallet Flushes.
I also feel guns are over cleaned, improperly cleaned or both.
I do not clean barrels, I subscribe to Wil Shuemann's thoughts. I don't clean bores, I take care of chambers only.
Actions? Well sorta hard to get these Plastic guns all the way down now isn't it.
Too many times of plastic pins going into and out of aluminum, or whatever metal, and that pin is not going to stay.
Smells of Creative Marketing to me...
Joe is correct.
Me, I blow stuff out and use lube if and when need.
I mean my guns do run dry, dirty and all...
*shrug*
Bar of Ivory Soap, Ballistol, just about cover it all.
Smokeless and BP alike.
Define "Non-tox".
There has been arguments about Simple Green actually being "safe" for humans.
Has to do with the wording and "definition" of terms.
Simple Green is NOT the only one of these cleaners NOT recommended for Aluminum.
MPPRO 7, Ultra-Klenz, Hoppe's "Green" , Gunzilla...etc...
These new products have fancy buzzwords , marketing, and the ones I have been around so far, act like "soap" to me.
In fact remind me of Murphy's Oil Soap, just a whole more expensive!
What gets me is, for too many years guns were cleaned and maintained without fancy stuff.
Firearm Chemicals are NOT that big of a market in comparison to what these Re-Packaged Products really are.
Why bother with it?
Oh I know Money is one reason. I mean Militec started out as a Chain Saw Lube, then it was figured out it could sell for Big bucks for ounce if re-labled as a firearm product, and especially if "troops are getting kilt" was hyped all over the damn place.
I personally feel 99% of all these products are not needed and are just Wallet Flushes.
I also feel guns are over cleaned, improperly cleaned or both.
I do not clean barrels, I subscribe to Wil Shuemann's thoughts. I don't clean bores, I take care of chambers only.
Actions? Well sorta hard to get these Plastic guns all the way down now isn't it.
Too many times of plastic pins going into and out of aluminum, or whatever metal, and that pin is not going to stay.
Smells of Creative Marketing to me...
Joe is correct.
Me, I blow stuff out and use lube if and when need.
I mean my guns do run dry, dirty and all...
*shrug*
Bar of Ivory Soap, Ballistol, just about cover it all.
Smokeless and BP alike.
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