Your using an aerosol degreaser or carb/brake cleaner to clean your handgun...

[sophijo]

tried and true

Steel guns.....50 Cal ammo can; add equal parts diesel fuel, Marvel Oil, WD 40remove grips and field strip, dunk/soak whole pistol for couple hours. Blow off/out with compressed air. Lightly grease slide and oil rest; I use Mobil 1 ATF now with good results. ......mags too.

 

[atavuss]

so, I used WD-40 to lube a Colt Defender (this was before I knew that WD-40 is bad for weapons), will brake cleaner harm stainless steel finish? how about blue or nickle weapons?

 

[BCRider]

The thing is WD is a tool like any other. It's the right thing for some apps and the wrong for others. On it's own it is neither good nor evil despite what some folks would like ot have you believe. It's a mix of solvents and a light body penetrating oil. Nothing more or less.

WD40 is actually a pretty good rust preventative if the object is stored in a relatively dry place. In an aggresively moist environment the WD won't last but if it's used regularly it'll still manage to keep rust away.

Sophijo, that sounds like a Bubba version of the camera bath I've used.... I'd suggest instead of the deisel you switch to a low odor kerosene or Varsol. It'll leave a much less vicious odor compared to the sulpherized compounds used in most diesel fuels.

Atavuss, for stainless instead of nickel then blast away. Brake cleaner is a relatively harmless solvent other than to wood grips. It even is kind to the rubber seals in brake systems. Nickel I'd be a little leery of using it on. Especially if the nickel has ANY signs of lifting in any spots on the gun. For that I'd use something less volitile such as mineral spirits or Varsol cleaning solvent and then blow it out with a light blast of compressed air to help clear away any gummy bits.

Carb cleaner, on the other hand, should only be used on metal and never on rubber or plastics from what I've experienced.

 

[RonellCooper]

I don't know about aerosol degreaser but I do know that carb/brake cleaner will ruin a wood finish. I was cleaning a old .410 that was given to me and found out the hard way.

 

[Haywood]

Been using Break Cleaner for years. I lube with Ballistol, CLP, or Gunzilla. I have had good results. If I get too much oil in the action I just prop the gun up and let it drain out for a while

 

[notorious]

I don't know about aerosol degreaser but I do know that carb/brake cleaner will ruin a wood finish. I was cleaning a old .410 that was given to me and found out the hard way.

I have a Mosin M44 that will also testify along with your .410 about the dangers of aerosol brake cleaner.

 

[moooose102]

all of my handguns are plastic. so i buy the gun scrubber that is safe for use on plastics. i have seen in the past where regular brake cleaner will discolor plastic, and there is always a chance that the two may not be compatible. if that happens, i think you would run the risk of damaging the plastic on a molecular level. i dont need to invite that kind of trouble. also, some spray on solvents will take the finish off from wood, so be careful there as well. as far as the trigger area, what i do is over lube it with my "special blend" of oils (1/3 mobil 1, 1/3 stp, 1/3 rem oil) , and blow the area out with compressed air after it sits for a few minutes to soak in. that gets rid of all the excess, and all of the metal has a very light coating left on it. i do the same on my semi auto shotgun as well. only i take the stock off it so it doesnt soak up the excess oil and / or solvent.