On Sun, 20 Feb 2011 15:52:13 -0800, "Steve B"
wrote:

There's some gun people here, so thought I'd ask. Also, guns do have a
slight metal content.

I want to wash some gun parts. I need about a gallon, and I intend to store
it in a jug and reuse it. Gun solvent is more expensive than REALLY good
single malt Scotch. I was thinking of maybe washing on some solvent on gun
parts that have powder residue, like bolt, breech, barrel, trigger assembly,
etc. Let it sit a bit, then wash it off in a bath of cheap liquid. I will
need this also to clean some of my pistols, where almost the entire gun can
be submerged. Is this a good idea, or is this a Q-tip/rag/lots of patience
thing?

Would rubbing alcohol or regular isopropyl work? Another liquid? And would
gun solvent evaporate if I let it sit too long between brushing and dipping
in final wash solution? Don't want anything that will harm the bluing, or
the wood stocks.

I know that these parts can be cleaned with tiny brushes, pieces of dowel,
etc. I just have this semi-auto rifle that looks like it has never been
cleaned, and it obviously is going to have to be cleaned in stages. And how
about the inside of the gun that stays attached to the stock, and cannot be
dipped without getting some of the solvent on the stock?

Particularly, I'm working with a Rem 552 BDL with a very nice stock.


The factory that makes VZ58 recommends WD40 as a cleaning/lubricating
agent. This is likely to cause apoplexy in many. However...

WD40 is mainly Stoddard solvent, i.e. mineral spirits. I suspect this
is the same ingredient of other premium compounds such as G96 (favored
by RCMP). Thus another version of mineral spirits (Varsol) which costs
pennies would do the job. I use Varsol on most things. I have not had
problem with paint *except* cheap Chinese throatless shears where the
paint dissolved.

I have never been a great fan of alcohols as cleaning agents and have
found them with minor exceptions ineffective.

I would be *very* careful with Ed's Red which contains acetone. Much
more aggressive, will remove some paints and dissolve some plastics (I
would not want a Glock near it!).

YMMV

Michael Koblic,
Campbell River, BC