Cleaning Firearms

Mike4Maryland · Jun 22, 2014

Not exactly sure where to post this.....

A nice day today and I decided to clean my handguns outside. The wife doesn't like the smell indoors and that's OK.

Just a thought. I'm thinking about buying an ultrasonic cleaner to do this job, and it's not a big deal if I bought one at Harbor Freight. I was just thinking...should I buy a solvent cleaner to put in it or just use Dawn liquid or something else? Another thought......perhaps using Hoppes in the thing? Your suggestions would be most helpful. Thanks!

j_h_smith · Jun 30, 2014

You'd probably get much more traffic if you posted this in the Water Cooler or Gunsmith forum.

Good Luck!
Jim Smith

rico903 · Jul 14, 2014

I don't think either of those are a good idea. They make 2 solutions, 1 for brass and 1 for gun parts. I'd buy the one you need.

K31 · Jul 14, 2014

My suggestion or comment is to use the search feature. There have been several threads on this very subject.

Mr. Ed · Jul 14, 2014

Ive had good luck with Ed's Red. I'm sure there are commercially available compounds, like Balistol, that work as well or better, but this stuff seems to do really well for my hand guns and other gun parts small enough to fit in the basket.

K31 · Jul 14, 2014

Don't know what your ultrasonic cleaner manual says, but mine says not to use any flammable liquids in it.

Overboost44 · Jul 14, 2014

I just picked up a Lyman ultrasonic and it says that they make a different chemical for gun parts than for brass and jewelry. So pick up some of that and you "should" be ok with anyones ultrasonic.

Bolts Rock · Jul 14, 2014

K31 said:
Don't know what your ultrasonic cleaner manual says, but mine says not to use any flammable liquids in it.

Professional lab trick, use a water bath and a glass beaker or deep glass dish that fits in the basket to contain flammables for an ultrasonic. I've done it for years, professionally, with ethanol, 2-propanol, pentane and hexane.

ducrider45 · Jul 23, 2014

I saw a video where Silenserco used a 50% solution of Purple Power to clean parts in an ultrasonic cleaner.

AssMan · Jul 23, 2014

10% ballistol/90% water for use in ultrasonic cleaners:

http://www.ballistol.com/faq/do-i-need-to-mix-ballistol-with-water/

Speed3 · Jul 23, 2014

Hmmmm wonder if I can take apart my suppressor and use the hornady gun cleaning solution?

Pretoria78 · Jul 23, 2014

Mike4Maryland,
Are you just trying to clean up your firearms? I'd suggest giving Fireclean a try. It's non-toxic, odorless and is definitely an improvement over Hoppe's #9.

I love this stuff because I can use it indoors and am not banished outside like I was years ago when using Hoppe's.

Ironnewt · Jul 24, 2014

Pretoria78 said:
Mike4Maryland,
Are you just trying to clean up your firearms? I'd suggest giving Fireclean a try. It's non-toxic, odorless and is definitely an improvement over Hoppe's #9.

I love this stuff because I can use it indoors and am not banished outside like I was years ago when using Hoppe's.

Banished from your domicile for using Hoppe's #9! Sir, turn in your MAN CARD!!! :lol2:

sxs · Jul 24, 2014

Ironnewt said:
Banished from your domicile for using Hoppe's #9! Sir, turn in your MAN CARD!!!

Yeah, I thought most gun-totin' men were addicted to the smell of Hoppes...or maybe I'm just an old guy and the new guys are used to 'smelless' cleaners. FWIW, I still savor the smell of both smokeless and blackpowder when on the range!

Evojoeix · Jul 24, 2014

Try Rand CLP. I picked up a bottle last weekend and love it. Pre-treat your gun, and the carbon just wipes off

rob-cubed · Jul 24, 2014

Use WipeOut or Ballistol, both smell great and are effective. WipeOut is about all I use anymore.

rico903 · Aug 15, 2014

sxs said:
Yeah, I thought most gun-totin' men were addicted to the smell of Hoppes...or maybe I'm just an old guy and the new guys are used to 'smelless' cleaners. FWIW, I still savor the smell of both smokeless and blackpowder when on the range!

Only decent thing I ever found in Just Guns, a Hoppes #9 car air freshener

And I guess some Rig and a Rig Rag, only place I'd seen any of them.

Ironnewt · Aug 15, 2014

rico903 said:
Only decent thing I ever found in Just Guns, a Hoppes #9 car air freshener
And I guess some Rig and a Rig Rag, only place I'd seen any of them.

If you need it, RIG is available on line and a "true" RIG rag is a piece of T-Shirt left in a just about empty RIG container then left in the sun on a hot day. Let the RIG saturate the rag and then you are done!

Uncle Duke · Aug 15, 2014

sxs said:
Yeah, I thought most gun-totin' men were addicted to the smell of Hoppes...or maybe I'm just an old guy and the new guys are used to 'smelless' cleaners. FWIW, I still savor the smell of both smokeless and blackpowder when on the range!

Indeed sir! Heaven probably smells like a just fired shotgun shell! Brings back memories of sitting against a tree and squirrel hunting with a single shot 410 as a grade school kid. And Hoppes is pretty close to Chanel, only without the sometimes aggravation!

DaemonAssassin · Aug 15, 2014

rico903 said:
Only decent thing I ever found in Just Guns, a Hoppes #9 car air freshener
And I guess some Rig and a Rig Rag, only place I'd seen any of them.

Sometimes I use Hoppes' #9 as cologne. You wouldn't believe how much it drives the chicks wild. No need to bathe in it, just a few drops will do you.

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