Brake Cleaner

[camp_86]

Reading several older threads it appears that several of you use brake cleaner to remove oil and grease from the bolt/action.

Is there a specific type of brake cleaner that you should use? Was planning to use the red CRC.

Any chance of removing nitride coating on bolt/action?

 

[Dave Thomas]

Brake cleaner is a great degreaser. Being that nitride treated actions aren't just a coating but penetrate into the steel you won't remove it. But I would test on an inconspicuous spot first to make sure it doesn't discoler it.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Reading several older threads it appears that several of you use brake cleaner to remove oil and grease from the bolt/action.

Is there a specific type of brake cleaner that you should use? Was planning to use the red CRC.

They all work fine.

Any chance of removing nitride coating on bolt/action?

No.

View attachment 939330

 

[TaperPin]

Reading several older threads it appears that several of you use brake cleaner to remove oil and grease from the bolt/action.

Is there a specific type of brake cleaner that you should use? Was planning to use the red CRC.

Any chance of removing nitride coating on bolt/action?

View attachment 939330

I’m not sure what the CRC is made from, but the cheap stuff is acetone in a spray can. Plenty strong enough for degreasing.

 

[BLJ]

I use the green can.
Non chlorinated and flammable.

 

[RockAndSage]

On oils, greases, and wet-fouling you find inside fired guns, it's better to use 90% or 99% rubbing alcohol - put it in a spray bottle from Home Depot or Lowes if you want to be able to spray deeper into an action. It's non-toxic, and works as well or better than brake cleaner, and is generally a lot cheaper. Only use solvents like brake cleaner or acetone on hard deposits, polymerized/baked fouling, or getting into adhesives such as thread locker, which is where they excel beyond what rubbing alcohol can do.

 

[TaperPin]

Like RockandSage said, be very careful around anything you don’t want to strip the color off of or make poka dotted when spraying acetone. I take just the bolt and go completely away from the gun.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

Works great on wasp nest too..I have a half dozen cans stashed at strategic locations at all times.

 

[nm.otter]

On oils, greases, and wet-fouling you find inside fired guns, it's better to use 90% or 99% rubbing alcohol

Walmart has 91% isopropanol at $4/qt. Good for lots of stuff.

 

[sierracharlie338]

I use the green can.
Non chlorinated and flammable.

This especially if you are using it on parts made from or near plastic parts as it can allegedly degrade them.

 

[camp_86]

Thanks guys. Think I will try the high content isopropyl alcohol first.

 

[parshal]

I use brake cleaner on everything (including down the barrel to remove any leftover cleaners) and then blow it with compressed air to dry faster. It doesn't dry all that fast in the nooks and crannies. I do use 99% or denatured alcohol, too, but brake cleaner is more effective. It has no effect on nitride or cerakote. I'd be careful on plastic stocks for sure.

 

[coiloil37]

If anyone’s interested in learning something about degreasing and specifically brakleen read this thread. You could just read post #10 on the first page then skip to the second page but reading the whole thing won’t take long and will give some context.

I used to clean all sorts of things with brakleen and used it free range with no thought to what’s in it. I don’t anymore.

FYI the link is to a fishing site, specifically about reel maintenance and they discuss cleaning and lubricating bearings but GClev gives you a free chemistry lesson if you care to read it.

TSI301

TSI301

alantani.com

 

[Laelkhunter]

Non chlorinated. It will remove all oil/lubricants, which might be what you are using it for. Make sure you properly lube the surfaces and apply something to prevent rust after you finish cleaning.

 

[nm.otter]

Acetone is nasty stuff, but I reach for it when I need stuff really, really dry clean.

d-limonene for general degreasing, but it is slightly oily -- like xylene, but much less toxic -- and it smells great.

 

[parshal]

FYI the link is to a fishing site, specifically about reel maintenance and they discuss cleaning and lubricating bearings but GClev gives you a free chemistry lesson if you care to read it.

I wouldn't use brake cleaner on reels either or any other part that needs to retain lubricity.

This was in GClev's post #16.

"I still use Brake Cleaner occasionally for auto mechanics or gun cleaning..."

 

[coiloil37]

The point of me posting the link has nothing to do with using brakleen on a firearm. Read through the thread, the whole thread and you’ll learn plenty you didn’t know.

 

[RockAndSage]

If anyone’s interested in learning something about degreasing and specifically brakleen read this thread. You could just read post #10 on the first page then skip to the second page but reading the whole thing won’t take long and will give some context.

I used to clean all sorts of things with brakleen and used it free range with no thought to what’s in it. I don’t anymore.

FYI the link is to a fishing site, specifically about reel maintenance and they discuss cleaning and lubricating bearings but GClev gives you a free chemistry lesson if you care to read it.

TSI301

TSI301

alantani.com

That was good stuff. Definitely important stuff about brake cleaner dangers, and spray solvents. All told though, there was very little info about 99% rubbing alcohol, other than him saying he doesn't use it because it "leaves residue", is polar, etc. But nothing about why polarity is bad. Would have liked to have seen him discuss it more.

That said, out of all the chemicals mentioned, from what I see rubbing alcohol remains the least-toxic as a gun cleaner and the best at removing oils and greases, without any residue left over. It strips oils and greases right down to bare surface metals. Perhaps it matters more in cleaning lab-grade analytical tools, as opposed to guns?