[Guvnor]

I need to find a gun cleaner that doesn't stink up my whole house. Hoppes 9 works great on my guns but im not crazy about the smell and how it lingers around for days. Ive used gun scrubber as well but it makes me lightheaded from the fumes.

Does anyone make a sort of "non-toxic" gun cleaner that will actually do the job?

[Ditchtiger]

Try hot soapy water and a toothbrush.

[chevyforlife21]

hoppes oil in scentless and try gunslick its not a hrash smell but its amonia.

[Jim Watson]

I use M-Pro 7 which appears to be a detergent rather than a petroleum distillate solvent.
Almost no odor, but it will give you dishpan hands in a hurry if you slop it around and will damage some stock finishes. So cover your stock to prevent drips from spotting it.

[Buck Nekkid]

My favorite is Break Free CLP. Very little odor and works very well.

[XTerminator]

Hoppe's Elite products claim to be non-toxic and odorless;

http://www.hoppes.com/products/elite_gun_cleaner.html

Steve

[gyvel]

(A) You should be using it in a place with adequate ventilation
(B) Gun Scrubber contains Trichloroethylene, a known carcinogen with an R45 rating, and was first developed as an anesthesia before the full implications of its effect on the CNS was known.

[Z-Michigan]

Mirachem Gun Cleaner, www.mirachem.com for a free sample. It's my favorite and has no drawbacks that I can find.

Before discovering that I used Hoppes Elite, which is non-smelly and pretty good, but caustic on skin.

And before that I used FP-10, which is at least non-smelly and non-toxic.

[AKElroy]

Hoppes 9 works great on my guns but im not crazy about the smell

Of course, you realize this quote is redneck herisy. Many of us proud mullet types put #9 on our cornflakes. +1 to cleaning them outside, or using soap & water.

[JohnBT]

I like M-Pro7, but it's nearly the same thing at Hoppes Elite. Or should I say Hoppe's Elite is similar to M-Pro7 - which was developed for cleaning jets, helicopters and chain guns.

"Hoppes Elite, based on technology from Pantheon Chemical, is the most modern gun cleaning system available. Based on the same technology as M-Pro 7 brand gun cleaners, Hoppes Elite has been specially forumulated for the sportsman, competitive shooter, and all around shooter, with stronger carbon cleaning capability and special grease and oil solvents, while M-Pro 7 has been specially formulated for the extreme outdoorsman, military and extreme police applications, and those needing more conditioning and corrosion protection, in addition to extreme cleaning capability. Hoppes Elite and M-Pro 7 are two side of the same coin, using the same base technology."

[9mm+]

I used to like the smell of Hoppe's #9 (kinda weird, I know), but my wife complained everytime I was cleaning firearms so I switched to Break Free CLP. No odor and it works pretty well. I still use Hoppe's on occasion when I need a deep clean and good barrel/action scrub, but the BF CLP is my "regular" cleaner of choice.

[Tinpig]

Z-Michigan-
Thanks for the link. I sent away for my sample. Since the stuff is water-soluble, do you have any problem putting oil on after cleaning?

Tinpig

[donato]

If you are historically a Hoppe's guy and wish to remain one, use the Hoppe's Elite Gun Cleaner that was mentioned earlier. I use it and like it.

[Elbert P . Suggins]

:cool:Now this is a topic I know alot about. When I started high school in 62 and started shaving my folks didn't buy me aftershave because it might attract the girls and go on to other things. English Leather, Aqua Velva and Brute were the ones that worked along with a sense of humor. But my friends dad who had been divorced and hit the bars always kept a bottle of Hoppes No 9 in his medicine cabinet. And I would watch him just put a bit under each ear and it drove the gals crazy when he would visit the local bar called Aunt Myrtle's Suds. He was always picking up a different gal and they always commented to him how good he smelled and how good it made them feel. In other words he got lucky! Well, I remembered that and to this day it has always worked for me and everytime I clean a gun which is as often as I can I get lucky also after being married 40 years. So, I really think there are far more females that come to their knees when they smell No. 9 than those that don't. That is my personal observation!

[Mt Shooter]

Try CLP works well and lubes as well.

[benEzra]

Outers foaming bore cleaner does a great job and has little to no odor.

I can't agree with those saying Break Free CLP has no odor. To my nose, it has a very strong (and unpleasant) smell that persists a long time.

[rcmodel]

Gun cleaners are supposed to smell!

I became addicted to Hoppes #9, and the smell of freshly fired paper shotgun shells, at the age of 10 in 1954.

I believe it made me the OCD Gun Nut I am today!

rc

[Beelzy]

You don't like the smell of Hoppes??

You must be from........"New York City!!!" LOL!!!

Hoppes smells like..............................................Victory!

[mp510]

Another vote for CLP- very low odor.

However, it sounds like the OP should definetely be doing more to ventilate his home when working with chemicals.

[rodregier]

Isopropanol as a solvent. Kroil to get under fouling (slight smell). JB Paste to remove carbon and jacket buildup. Ballistol for lube.

Chosen to minimize vapour bio-hazards since I normally clean indoors. Outdoor range time is too valuable to be used for cleaning.

[welldoya]

I used Hoppes #9 for over 30 years. The smell does tend to linger and would even give me a headache if I was exposed to it too long. I switched to Breakfree CLP and really like it. Very low odor and it cleans well. And you don't have to use oil afterwards so it eliminated a step on the gun-cleaning process.

[avan47]

Hoppe's Elite and MPro-7 are the same thing, both made by Pantheon Chemical Corp. Other than that, everything said about them above is correct. Odorless, non-toxic, non-flammable, biodegradable, and it cleans at least as good as if not better than anything else I have used.

[jimmyraythomason]

I like Dawn dishwashing liquid and HOT water. Be sure to re-lube as it removes ALL lube. Oh yeah I forgot,use WD-40 after the bath to remove all traces of water(hat-tip to hammerklavier).

[chevyforlife21]

haha hoppes as after shave thats pretty funny. i use #9 and clp and i like the smell of both more so the hoppes though.

[hammerklavier]

+1 CLP

(at least no one suggested WD40 :)

[deputy tom]

FP-10 clp.A very light cinnamon odor.tom.:)

http://www.clarkcustomguns.com/fp10.htm

[Tamren]

Hoppes Elite is mostly odorless and supposedly non-toxic. I've found that Elite works a little better then 9. at least for me.

[XTerminator]

I still love the smell of Hoppe's #9. It's a nostalgia thing for me. Always reminds me of when I was a kid helping my dad clean guns after a fun day of target shooting or hunting.

Can't stand the smell of Break-Free, however. :D

Steve

[Z-Michigan]

Z-Michigan-
Thanks for the link. I sent away for my sample. Since the stuff is water-soluble, do you have any problem putting oil on after cleaning?

No problem at all. Wipe the part dry, give it a couple seconds for any remaining moisture to evaporate, and then use your oil of choice. I've been using both FP-10 and Hoppes Elite Gun Oil after cleaning with Mirachem and have had zero problems with either one. In fact I would be inclined to suggest a quality synthetic motor oil as potentially better and cheaper than either option. The short of it is that you can use any oil that would otherwise be appropriate, the Mirachem cleaner will not interfere with it.

You'll be pleasantly surprised at the 4oz bottle they send you as a sample, too.

Everyone reading this should get a sample. I heard about it from a professional trainer who ditched either Hoppes Elite or Mpro-7 for Mirachem after trying it. I agree 100%. Hoppes Elite was almost (not quite) as effective in my use but irritated my eyes and skin. Mirachem cleans slightly better and doesn't irritate anything or have much of any smell.

[Guvnor]

Thanks for the help fellas.

I usually clean my guns in the garage with the door open. But regardless the fumes still get to me if im in there awhile or cleaning several guns.

I ended up picking up some MPro-7 gun cleaner. Thanks again.

[Deltaboy]

Simple clean your guns outside or in the shop.

[EvanWilliams]

I saw some dude at the Gunshow (big town mesquite tx) today who had a gun that was freshly cleaned in his environmentally friendly soln in a fish bowl with goldfish swimming around apparently unharmed. Wish I would have gotten the name for you.

[Tedster]

Try Ballistol Sportsmans Oil mixed 50/50 with water.

(kidding.) That stuff is positively gawdawful! I just bought a can from Brownells a while back after reading some good reviews online for BP cleaning. Some folks said they didn't like it a whole lot. I started cleaning my Pietta .36 and at first, thought it wasn't bad.. a little bit licorice like. Then it started getting stronger, till I about chunked, had to leave the room. Jeez, Louise!! It ain't Hoppes! I've been eyeing the can warily since then, and don't wanna open it no more. though it does work good.

[Rugg_Ed]

Loctite Natural Blue water soluble.
House hold ammonia.
Remember to re oil.

[jimmyraythomason]

I have found cleaning to be managable scentwise. It is the stripping of stocks and new finish application where I find I need the most ventilation. I use this dual fan in my shop. I have it pulling air out when doing stock work or when beadblasting. It helps greatly.

[ghoster]

easiest, completely orderless way is to send all guns to the ghost.:D

i keep a bottle of #9 in the bathroom for aftershave.;)

[DBR]

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=22333/Product/ELIMINATOR

[SMMAssociates]

A friend of mine runs a gun shop. His sister is their CFO (and as close to normal as anybody in the family). She claims to wear Hoppe's as perfume....

Could be....

(He's definite evidence of inter-planetary contact.)

I don't mind Hoppe's myself. The newer "semi-auto" solvent has a nasty smell, though. Doesn't bother me too much, but I probably will try the "Elite" next time around.

(If I could find it! We just moved, and I'm missing a box of cleaning stuff. It's here somewhere - probably next to the Lost Ark....)

CLP's fine, too. Slip 2000 (lubricant) seems fine, too.

I'm also missing some CD's that are important - might plan a seance....

Regards,

[gyvel]

I should have mentioned earlier that there is a product made called RB 17. It is water soluble, non toxic and has a pleasant pine smell. Google it. I've been using it for years and it does a fantastic job of removing not only fouling, but rust as well.

[otblue]

Hoppes Elite (M Pro7) is an excellent general cleaner and bore cleaner (carbon residues). If you then need to remove copper from your bore then Shooters Choice AquaClean bore cleaner is a very effective follow up. Both these products are almost odourless and very low toxicity.
Shooters Choice also has a general purpose AquaClean product that is no smell but the above combination works better for me.
They do not inhibit rust or act as lubricants though so you need to finish with another product.
If you are really adverse to any odour then paraffin/mineral oil (baby oil) can be used as a lubricant/rust preventative but not a particularly good one.
ATP has only a mild smell and is an effective lubricant and rust inhibitor.

[Dulvarian]

If you can smell it when you use it, you are inhaling it. A very little bit, every now and then, doesn't bother me. Usually, I use negative ventilation with the suction right at the bench where I am doing the cleaning. Works great to keep the second hand smoke down too.

[cavman]

Does anyone make a sort of "non-toxic" gun cleaner that will actually do the job?

I have been using Gunzilla for about 3 years now on my Bullseye guns. I have been picking up a bottle when at Camp Perry.

http://www.topduckproducts.com/

[eight433]

You must be from........"New York City!!!"


Is this a......

I think it might be a.......

Yep... it is a Pace Picante reference!
Congrats. You are the FIRST person I have heard use a Pace Picante reference in probably ten years!

My household complains about the smell also. Personally, I like it WAY better than the usual smell of stale cigarette smoke.

[Ed Harris]

Mix your own Ed's Red. It's my recipe.

Not nontoxic, but stinks less than the store bought. Read the warnings. You can leave out the acetone and anhydrous lanolin to reduce VOC emissions for indoor use and this also keeps the cost down. The cleaner is then a bit less aggressive and you will need to let it soak for a while.

If you want to try a small amount before mixing your own here is the link at Brownell's. A portion of the proceeds benefit Junior shooter training programs of the Virginia Shooting Sports Association:

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=19936

Here are some links to various pages which have "the recipe":

http://www.kuci.uci.edu/~dany/firearms/eds_red.html
http://www.handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=9
http://www.frfrogspad.com/homemade.htm
http://www.lasc.us/EdsRedBoreCleaner.htm
http://www.surplusrifle.com/reviews/edred/original.asp
http://home.comcast.net/~dsmjd/tux/dsmjd/tech/eds_red.htm
http://shilohtv.com/?cat=8

[gyvel]

Here's the link for RB-17:

http://www.rb-17.com/

[Chris taylor]

HAHA , Elbert must be work for Hoppes! (promotional scam) jk Everyone knows girls dont like gun cleaning products! Or at least around here they dont... :cuss: :banghead: -Chris-

[LaVere]

I like Prolix low smell does a great job go the the website read about it.
http://www.prolixlubricant.com/

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2756/4473182218_e93940814b_o.jpg

[The Bushmaster]

Doesn't like the smell of Hoppe's? Someone check to see if he is a real American.
Not liking the smell of hoppe's is sacrilege...

I believe that the smell is eromatics, kerosene and amonia.

[Crash_Test_Dhimmi]

elbow grease, but it does smell after a few days

[ForumSurfer]

The only thing that smells here is this zombie thread someone dug up. :rolleyes:

Having said that, what self respecting man doesn’t rub a dab of hoppe’s, gun oil, motor oil, wd-40 or some other manly product behind his ears before a date? Don’t want the pretty little lady getting the wrong idea about you…

[Victor1Echo]

I love the smell of Hoppes. I have never worn it as an aftershave, but the thought occured to me. As many said, it is a smell that takes you back to being a kid--assuming you fired guns as a kid. I also thought I was weird for thinking this, but this thread has shown me that I am not alone. Thanks.

[SMMAssociates]

I don't like the new "Hoppe's for semi's" or whatever it's called. Works like it's supposed to, but the smell's no fun.... I'm going to switch back when I run out of it....

Regards,

[thorazine]

My favorite is Break Free CLP. Very little odor and works very well.

Agreed.

I've never had to use anything harsher than CLP to clean.


Perhaps it may take a little longer -- if you are meticulous.

[Guvnor]

Since my thread is back from the dead, I guess ill just mention that I have been using Mpro7 products with good results. They are non-toxic and practically odor free. You can use it indoors no problem.

[SharpsDressedMan]

Clenzoil has a nice fragrance/odor. I find Breakfree kind of annoying. Got it on my hands before bedtime, tried to was it off, and could smell it all night on my hands.

[Keb]

Try Prolix. 800-248-LUBE

[dougwx12]

I use mpro-7 as well. Useless for copper, and you MUST put oil or grease on afterwards, as it strips everything.