Chore Boy

[Catpop]

A while back someone said not all copper scrubbers are created equal and some were coated steel making them unsuitable for cleaning lead out of bores. The ones sold by the bargain stores are in fact copper coated steel and IMHO not suited for bore scrubbing. But the "Chore Boy Scrubber" is totally copper and makes a great scrubber for leaded pistol barrels. It does cost 2 to 3 times as much, but this is NOT THE WAY TO TRY AND SAVE MONEY NO MATTER HOW TIGHT YOU ARE!
Good reloading Catpop

 

[GBExpat]

... OK.

Having a bad day?

 

[Catpop]

Not at all, just giving info to the group about the quality of name brand vs generic. Did i say something wrong. Sure did not mean to, Catpop

 

[GBExpat]

Nope, you didn't say anything wrong ... the yelling made you seem a bit, um, tense.

 

[Robert101]

Yep, agreed. I do not rub anything "steel" on the interior of my barrel (bore). Copper or bronze for heavy cleaning.

 

[GBExpat]

Whenever I am looking to buy some generic "Chore Boy" (rarely, but it has happened a few times) I always take a magnet with me to inspect the product.

 

[Catpop]

Hey I'm the king of tight! Also king of leading pistol barrels lately!
Why I can squeeze a buffalo nickel until---well you know!
Good Reloading, Catpop

 

[Potatohead]

You always crack me up catpoop!

 

[rsrocket1]

If you can't affor $3.59 for several years worth of Chore Boy copper strands, go ahead and use copper coated steel from the dollar store. You can afford a new barrel.
You can save $0.60 as seen here for the generic copper scrubber.

 

[JohnM]

I've been pulling strands off a copper scrubber since it probably cost 2 bits.
Got no idea just what brand the thing was.
If you're all that worried, I bet they all have what they're made of some where on the label.

 

[KansasSasquatch]

I can find Chore Boy at all the stores I typically go to but unfortunately Chore Boy apparently makes copper coated steel too and that's what my local stores carry. In the last year I haven't had any luck findin them locally and ordering them online doesn't seem worth the trouble when a little elbow grease and a slightly oversized bore brush does the trick.

 

[oneounceload]

but unfortunately Chore Boy apparently makes copper coated steel too

Yep, and a small magnet will tell you the truth

 

[rcmodel]

You have to ask a salesperson for them here in Lawrence at all the stores.
They keep them under lock & key.

The crack-heads steal them to make crack-pipe filters faster then they can stock the shelves!

Considered 'drug paraphilia' by local cops if all the other indications are there.

rc

 

[kcofohio]

Couldn't find any in our town, so I ordered through Amazon.

 

[GBExpat]

The crack-heads steal them to make crack-pipe filters faster then they can stock the shelves!

I remember first reading about that in an '80s novel. One of the characters was a drug dealer in a big city (Chicago?) and operated a dilapidated "Candy" Store.

Other than the very few sugary treats that were actually on the almost empty shelves, there was a good supply of Chore Boy ... and the author explained what it was for.

 

[oldreloader]

You have to ask a salesperson for them here in Lawrence at all the stores.
They keep them under lock & key.

The crack-heads steal them to make crack-pipe filters faster then they can stock the shelves!

Considered 'drug paraphilia' by local cops if all the other indications are there.

rc

Dang Crackheads! They got my sinus med pulled now this!!

 

[GBExpat]

I am with you on that, but ... to be fair, it was the MethFreaks that caused our cheap, effective pseudoephedrine sinus meds to be pulled.

Thank goodness I used to buy several multi-packs at a time from COSTCO and keep them in the basement fridge. Due to my rationing, I still have one 96ct box left.

 

[rsrocket1]

You can also find bronze wool at Ace Hardware stores and Home Depot in the paint section. The fine grade wool works decently with cleaning lead from barrels, but really excels at cleaning rust spots from guns without removing the surrounding bluing.

Don't let the Ace Hardware webpage scare you, it's not "Bronze Steel Wool", it's real Bronze Wool without steel in it. It's used in marine finishes because left over bits won't rust like steel wool does.