I'd like to get some recommendations for de-greaser (as in remove oil) that won't harm existing blue? I'm using a few things, but I'm not overly thrilled with any of them. Any suggestions?
EDIT: I should have given more info. This isn't a once in a while thing, it's an often thing. And I'm talking about revolver cylinder throats, which don't lend themselves to scrubbing. I've been using Birchwood Casey gun scrubber as well as non chlorinated brake cleaner. Neither is getting the cutting oil out as well as I need.
"He who has it, would do well to have it as if he did not have it."
DO NOT USE CARBURETOR CLEANER!! The stuff is very powerful and will eat just about any metal if it stays in contact too long. I'd try a little Murphy's Oil Soap and a lot of elbow grease or just some Dawn dishwashing liquid and then blow dry with high-pressure air (if you have access to it) or use cotton towels right away. Low-tech? Maybe, but cheaper than a reblue.
Posts: 2758 | Location: Fernley, NV-- the center of the shootin', four-wheelin', ATVin' and dirt-bikin' universe | Registered: 28 May 2003
Originally posted by rootbeer: DO NOT USE CARBURETOR CLEANER!! The stuff is very powerful and will eat just about any metal if it stays in contact too long. I'd try a little Murphy's Oil Soap and a lot of elbow grease or just some Dawn dishwashing liquid and then blow dry with high-pressure air (if you have access to it) or use cotton towels right away. Low-tech? Maybe, but cheaper than a reblue.
I've never sustained any damage on cold, hot or rust blued guns. Have you?
Another option is one of the citrus oil products. You want a 100% oil, not a detergent blend. Sometimes you can find it at auto parts stores being sold as a non-petroleum engine cleaner in a spray can.
"Experience" is the only class you take where the exam comes before the lesson.
Posts: 11142 | Location: Texas, USA | Registered: 22 September 2003
Originally posted by iamgene: Non-chlorinated disc brake cleaners, the aerosol cans..ala STP, Prestone and Tech One by Wally Mart.
+1. It doesn't harm ANY metal finish that is used in firearms. It makes blueing, parkerizing, and anodizing look dull only because it *completely* removes all traces of oil and grease. Relube and it looks like new.
I have been using arosol brake cleaner for degreasing guns, tools, and just about everything else for years and have never had a problem with damage to a finish. Plain old ATF also works well for cutting heavy grease deposits.
Simple Green and the newer Citrus products work pretty good also but require allot of soaking and scrubbing.
Another harmless solution that works similar to Simple Green and Citrus products and is good on grease is Dr. Bronners castile soap...and it smells good too!
Posts: 4574 | Location: Valencia, California | Registered: 16 March 2005
LOL... I ream cylinder throats. www.cylindersmith.com/ After I work on them I cold blue them for a little temporary rust protection, and mostly because people like to see them blue again when they get them back.
I've used BC Gun scrubber as well as brake cleaner from Wally World for years. But I recently started using "Cool Tool 2" as a cutting oil. It's working MUCH better than what I used in the past, however I'm not having much luck with degreasing them well enough afterwards.
"He who has it, would do well to have it as if he did not have it."
cas, As Jeffe said, simple green. The best degreasers are needed when you rust blue and this is the go to cleaner now for that. I have found some auto commercial cleaners that seem to do as well.
I once was witness to a carburetor having been soaked in carb cleaner for what was obviously too long a period of time. The thing was pitted and looked like it had been shotpeened. I would never clean a gun with the stuff. Elbow grease is non-toxic and washes right off with hot water and soap. Why risk it?
Posts: 2758 | Location: Fernley, NV-- the center of the shootin', four-wheelin', ATVin' and dirt-bikin' universe | Registered: 28 May 2003
And I'm talking about revolver cylinder throats, which don't lend themselves to scrubbing. I've been using Birchwood Casey gun scrubber as well as non chlorinated brake cleaner. Neither is getting the cutting oil out as well as I need.
