[Ringer]

Are there types of cleaning and lubricating products that should or should not be used on handguns with a Nickel finish? Things I have on hand for other guns are Hoppes #9, Outers Bore Cleaner, Outers Gun Oil and Break-Free CLP. The Hoppes says not to "soak" nickel finish parts but doesn't say not to use otherwise.

Any tips for cleaning/lubricating Nickel finish? Are these products OK?

Thanks very much.

[jjmorgan64]

I use Mpro7 on mine, works very well to clean it.

Any lube should work fine.

[JohnKSa]

Never use any product which claims to remove or dissolve metal fouling or jacket residue.

Limited contact is OK if the integrity of the surface hasn't been compromised, but if the finish is old, or worn, it can get underneath the nickel and dissolve it.

[Jim K]

I don't know about "electroless" nickel plating, but the common type can come off if an ammonia cleaner gets underneath it. The reason is that nickel won't plate to steel, but copper will. So the gun is first copper plated, then nickel plated. Ammonia can affect nickel, if only slightly. But ammonia cleaners are MADE to dissolve copper, so if there is any place (like a muzzle) where it can get under the nickel, it will. The copper dissolves, and the nickel is left unattached to peel off.

Jim

[Hkmp5sd]

In addition to the above, don't use any penetrating oil such as Blaster or RustBuster.

[gudel]

will ammonia be okay to be used on stainless steel or regular blued barrel?

[lee n. field]

Would Simple Green be a safe cleaner for nickel? The label on my bottle doesn't go into much detail about what's actually in it.

[JohnKSa]

Ammonia based cleaners are safe for unplated steels as long as you follow the instructions, AND, as long as you don't use them in conjunction with any of the Gunscrubber type solvents.

I've heard that they interact to make a steel-unfriendly product.