Antibacterial lotions safe for metal gun finishes?
- Thread starter becket
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FL-NC
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If it is designed for your skin, I don't see how it could be worse than a gun cleaning solvent on gun metal. It may remove lubricants and require them to be re-applied to prevent corrosion.
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
I wouldn’t think so, but I would follow it up with a silicone rag just to be sure. A lot of these hand sanitizer contain alcohol and glycol (sugar base). I wouldn’t imagine either hurting a guns finish, but I wouldn’t leave the glycol on long, hence the silicone rag suggestion.
steven58
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It might be an issue with some shellac finishes on vintage guns.
herrwalther
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Alot of anti bacterials use alcohol to kill all the micro creepy crawlies. Alcohol evaporates much faster than water, and removes most oils that would protect a firearm's finish from rust. If sterilizing your firearm is a concern, use something like a UV light. If it is transfer from your hands after using some on yourself, I wouldn't worry about it as long as you clean/lube routinely.
X62503
Contributing Member
I have gotten my Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops, leave-in conditioner, anti-aging créme, and squalene/algae eye serum all over my EDC CCW, but the only thing that I have had just a heck of a time getting out of the open grain of the stocks is Genaissance de la Mer Concentrated Night Balm. YMMV.
wiscoaster
Member
I wash my hands to get off as much skin oil as possible and do not use any kind of hand lotions before handling or working on my firearms, then I always wipe the guns down with a very-lightly-oiled rag before putting them away.
If you're worried about getting cooties off the gun then just wash your hands again after handling it.
If you're worried about getting cooties off the gun then just wash your hands again after handling it.
.308 Norma
Member
I believe there are some hand sanitizers (probably more common for commercial uses) out there that use quaternary ammonium compounds. Those are corrosive but shouldn't really cause problems with stainless steel. They will turn brass green and, I suppose, could be an issue for blued finishes.
Benzalkonium chloride is a common anti-bacterial ingredient in hand wipes and similar products. As far as I can tell, at the concentrations they are used in those products, they shouldn't be an issue.
Alcohol (ethanol) is common in the gel-type and some liquid type hand-sanitizers. It shouldn't be corrosive, but the alcohol could potentially damage anything that is sensitive to solvents. I wouldn't expect it to be an issue for plastics or metals, but it could be an issue for some wood finishes.
Finally, nearly any product that's designed for skin is going to have at least some water in it. We all know about water and its effect on metals.
Benzalkonium chloride is a common anti-bacterial ingredient in hand wipes and similar products. As far as I can tell, at the concentrations they are used in those products, they shouldn't be an issue.
Alcohol (ethanol) is common in the gel-type and some liquid type hand-sanitizers. It shouldn't be corrosive, but the alcohol could potentially damage anything that is sensitive to solvents. I wouldn't expect it to be an issue for plastics or metals, but it could be an issue for some wood finishes.
Finally, nearly any product that's designed for skin is going to have at least some water in it. We all know about water and its effect on metals.
CapnMac
Member
I'll wager OP is more thinking about having still-drying sanitizer on their hands then touching the firearm.
That's a guess, worth about 2¢
Typical ingredients in sanitizer are glycerine, isopropyl alcohol, and, typically, a tiny amount of bleach. The alcohol allows the glycerine to "dry" by evaporation as well as being sterilizing (if above 80%).
wiscoaster
Member
The way I read the OP in combination with the thread title is that he's wiping it down with the stuff. Why is anybody's guess and my guess is probably worth less than Capn's two cents.
Skylerbone
Member
I couldn’t say which modern S&W pistols are or aren’t stainless but I know my M&P is. The grip possibly, if it dries it out or turns it tacky, the sights if they include fiber optic plastic inserts, probably nothing else.
RETG
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