brake kleen?

Sun_and_Steel_77

Sun_and_Steel_77

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...does anyone use brake cleaner to clean thier firearms?? would like to use it just worried that it would damage plastic parts? any input or experience appreciated.

Thx. Mad Mikey
 
I've used it a couple of times to break down oils and grease prior to a hot water cleaning. I find that it does leave a film on most metal. It would be better than nothing, but remember it takes any protective oil off.
 
I have used CRC Brakleen [green tin is best] for years. It is one of the best degreasers out there. However, it does attack certain plastic finishes and will cause some clear plastics to go opaque. I do not use in on rifle parts that are in wood or plastic stocks...metal only. The caution regarding getting it on your skin is valid. Also remember to use it where ventilation is excellent, you should avoid breathing the vapors. After treating any iron/iron alloy parts they will be vulnerable to rust, since it takes all oils completely off the metal.
FWIW, it is one of the best wasp killers I have ever seen, instant death on contact. Regards, Eagleye.
 
i have been using it for years on guns and heavy trucks. avoid contact with rubber/latex/plastic as it wilkl degrade and start breaking down the molecular structure. and defintly dont spray in an enclosed area especialy a brake drum off a freightshaker you have your head in, you will get high. the avoiding skin contact sounds liek a good idea and would explain alot of things i wonder how much damage i have done to my self over the years just from not wearing gloves while handling varied chemicals LOL. like its been said as soon as you finish cleaning re-oil as the cleaner will remove ALL protective films from the metal.
just a type when working with chemicals vinyl gloves are far safer then latex as most chemicals available to you will not damage the vinyl as easily as latex
 
Like all halogenated hydrocarbons they are very bad for your health. That said I use it with great success but outside and take care to keep it off my skin. Oh stand upwind.

Brian
 
I used brake cleaner recently on my colt 1911 blue finish, it seemed to remove some of the bluing. I was quite upset at first but it is still blue. I wouldn't use it again though. Just my experience
 
I had one of the cheap plastic orange front sites in my Ruger GP100. Brake cleaner made it look like a roasted marshmallow. Melted the s--t out of it. Did clean the gun though. I have heard that it takes bluing off.

It does leave a film so I give her a quick squirt with gunscrubber after. (4X price of brake cleaner) then oil her up.
 
I use it frequently with good results, and I have never had an issue with it removing blueing. Observe all of the cautions previously mentioned - outside use is preferable and avoid skin contact.

It also makes an excellent degreaser for bullet molds.
 
Brake cleaner will not remove blueing. It does remove all the oil and as a result the surface looks different until you oil it again.

my $0.02

Brian
 
Brakleen

Anybody wants a Material Safety Data Sheet for this stuff let me know. I work for an industrial supply house and have access to this info and am trained to keep you from getting buggered up so you can live longer and spend more money. Some of these chemicals do not cause any immediate symptoms but may catch up with you later. Protection is cheap-repair bills are not.
 
For degreasing I prefer to use Simple Green - non toxic and is good for stubborn deposits. Of course you need to rinse it off with water, but that's not a big deal, just oil it right after.
 
Brake kleen & carby kleen are very good cleaning products for metal but keep it well away from Tru-Oiled stocks. Been there and had to strip the lot and do it again:( .45-90
 
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