Brake cleaner vs. Birchwood Gun Scrubber

[Bama Drifter]

Hey fellas,
Am I right in saying that the above listed chemicals are nearly identical but packaged differently for two different industries? Wally World sells CRC Super Tech Non-Chlorinated Brake Cleaner for $2.50 per 14oz can, while they also stock Birchwood Casey Gun Scrubber for $12 per 15oz can.

Anybody else see the savings potential here?

Please correct me if I'm wrong... don't wanna stock up on incorrect product!

 

[cpileri]

same

They might be the same, the only diff I notice is that the brake cleaner (or carb and choke cleaner) takes a longer time to dry than the Gunscrubber, so there is some sort of less-volatile volatile in it.

What does dry instantly like the gunscrubber is CRC Contact cleaner (*) Electronic Safe cleaner/degreaser that can be found in the lighting/electronics section. That solvent dries almost immediately w no residue, like the gun scrubber and is way cheaper.

The non-chlorinated will work, but unless you know it safe for the finish or plastic parts, be careful.

Sometimes, I want one that doesn't dry immediately, like if I am soaking the bore to loosen up gunk. But usually I like the quick drying.

C-

(*) http://crcindustries.com/ei/product_detail.aspx?id=02130

 

[Snyper]

I've used "carb cleaner" for many years rather than pay 5 times more for the same thing in a can that says "gun"

 

[cpileri]

I guess I should add, that I rarely use gun specific cleaning products. A copper cleaner and maybe that's it.

 

[natman]

Gunscrubber is similar to brake cleaner. If you have a camo finished gun, I'd recommend that you use the special Gunscrubber version for camo. Otherwise brake cleaner would be OK.

Contact cleaner dries so fast that it hardly has a chance to clean heavy grime. Great for removing a film of oil on contacts, no so good for guns.

Carb cleaner is very hard on gun finishes. You should always test before you use anything, but the odds of having a problem with carb cleaner are higher than with brake cleaner.

For all of these, avoid getting them on your skin and use plenty of ventilation.

 

[orionengnr]

Carb cleaner and brake cleaner are different.
Carb cleaner can damage plastics, wood, rubber.

Use carb cleaner for carbs.

 

[Snyper]

Carb cleaner and brake cleaner are different.
Carb cleaner can damage plastics, wood, rubber.

Use carb cleaner for carbs.

Many solvents will damage those.
Those aren't parts you'd clean with solvents though.

One has to use both solvents and a little common sense


CRC "Carb Cleaner":

Methanol
Toluene
Acetone
Carbon dioxide
Ethylbenzene

CRC "Brake Cleaner":

Methanol
Toluene
Acetone
3-Methylhexane
Carbon dioxide
n-Heptane
Methylcyclohexane
Naphtha (petroleum), hydrotreated
Cyclohexane
Ethylbenzene

Klean-Strip "Gun Cleaner":

1.Xylene
2. Methanol
3. Acetone
4. Ethanol
5. Butyl acetate
6. Stoddard solvent
7. Toluene

 

[Sunray]

Like Snyper says, it's pretty typical for anything with the word 'Gun' or 'Gunsmith' in its name to cost more.
It's not really about "incorrect product" though. More about what each chemical is designed to clean. Carb cleaners are usually about removing carbon. Brake cleaners are more about oil based gunk.

 

[Mauser lover]

I use all of the above! Just be careful about wood, plastic, and paints.

 

[Bama Drifter]

Thanks fellas, I will start with more brake cleaner and if it's too wet, will move on to contact cleaner. Much obliged!

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