Cleaning Guns

kje54

kje54

Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2021
Messages
1,914
Location
Duke City
I had an interesting conversation with my neighbor a while back. He asked me what I would charge to clean his guns. Said he loves shooting them but hates cleaning them. Stated his shooting buddies are the same. During the summer I typically clean and work on my guns in my garage with the door open, opening faces his house, not the street. This is how he knows I like making sure all my guns are clean and in excellent, functioning condition.
I actually have no idea what I would charge for a standard clean or a deep clean.
 
I would think anywhere from $20 for a lite cleaning to maybe $50 for a detail strip and clean. I would have to ask myself if I really wanted to invest that much time. But it could turn into a decent income stream?
 
$50 an hour is my rate. I won't do any work for less. I made more than that at the job I retired from (I was salaried, but still overtime eligible, so I was well compensated). Sheesh, have any of you hired housecleaners lately? Up here, they're getting $35-plus an hour and most want a lot more for new clients.
drk1 said:
But in this day and age, you might want to give some thought to liability. If anything ever goes wrong with one of the firearms that you cleaned, guess who is going to be in the crosshair.
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And just how would that even come up?
 
And just how would that even come up?
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And you're saying this because nobody sues people these days unless they have a really good reason and everyone rushes to take responsibility for their actions as opposed to blaming someone else? 😁

If something did go wrong with the gun after the service, there's certainly the possibility that the owner would try to blame the person who did the cleaning. I guess in that case one either accepts responsibility (a la 'The customer is always right.') or tries to fight it. In either case, I imagine it's going to cost something (money/time/hassle) to deal with the claim.

It would be worthwhile for the OP to look into the rules about what legally constitutes gunsmithing as a business and when that requires federal licensing. I tried to figure it out from the BATF FAQ section, but found it a bit confusing.
 
JohnKSa said:
If something did go wrong with the gun after the service, there's certainly the possibility that the owner would try to blame the person who did the cleaning. I guess in that case one either accepts responsibility (a la 'The customer is always right.') or tries to fight it. In either case, I imagine it's going to cost something (money/time/hassle) to deal with the claim.

It would be worthwhile for the OP to look into the rules about what legally constitutes gunsmithing as a business and when that requires federal licensing.
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Inasmuch as defensive handgun uses -- where shots are actually fired -- by private citizens are incredibly rare, and even in the unlikely event one's gun malfunctions after being cleaned by a second party -- HOW is this going to come up? C'mon, guys.
 
Ah, yes--I see where you are coming from. If you assume that the only possible thing that could go wrong with a firearm would be something involving a shooting, then your position makes sense.

Most of the time when "something goes wrong with a firearm" it has nothing to do with someone getting shot. Someone puts a firearm together wrong when they reassemble it and assumes the firearm is damaged or defective. Someone uses bad ammo and blames the gun or the manufacturer. Someone does something stupid and refuses to take responsibility and looks for someone else to blame. A part breaks due to normal wear and tear and the person assumes the gun is defective or someone damaged it. etc., etc.

I think that kind of thing is a real possibility. But yes, if you assume that the only possible way liability could result is if the gun was used in an actual shooting, then it would make sense to dismiss the concern.
 
kje54 said:
I had an interesting conversation with my neighbor a while back. He asked me what I would charge to clean his guns. Said he loves shooting them but hates cleaning them. Stated his shooting buddies are the same. During the summer I typically clean and work on my guns in my garage with the door open, opening faces his house, not the street. This is how he knows I like making sure all my guns are clean and in excellent, functioning condition.
I actually have no idea what I would charge for a standard clean or a deep clean.
Click to expand...
Once a year I pay $35 - $50 to have my Henry rifle deep cleaned. It generally takes about an hour. Its the only firearm I don't deep clean myself. Same person charges $25 to field strip and clean/lube pistols. She doesn't deep clean other peoples pistols because she isn't a gunsmith.
 
Old Dog said:
in the unlikely event one's gun malfunctions after being cleaned by a second party -- HOW is this going to come up?
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You've never had anyone bring a gun to you that they "broke" while cleaning because they hope you can "fix" it for them without going to a shop? I have.

Never hung out at the gunsmith and listen to them complain about people screwing up their guns stripping them down and putting them back together improperly or can't get them back together at all? I have.

Never heard of someone threatening to sue or "call the cops" over some maintenance failure. I have.

Most of us probably have.

If you haven't, you're lucky.
 
How confident are you in your finished work?
Invite him to do it with you and show him your tricks. (But no $$$)
Fun time.
Any problems, HE did it.
 
I would say at least $65 an hour minimum. Plumbers make much more than that per hour.
 
Suggest you keep mum. If you take another person's gun it to clean it for pay, you're supposed to have a FFL; especially if it stays in your home overnight.

I have worked on other people's guns, but get them on the school's book (they have the FFL) and don't charge.
 
I have done both cleaning and repair for friends and family as a courtesy, I don't charge family, not even for parts in some instances.
Now that I'm back to doing it professionally, I really try to keep the side work to family.

I finished a gun for a friend recently that I started before I started back at the gun shop, and I still look at/do basic work on friends' guns at the range, but I'm trying not to take on side work for now. If it's something I can't fix right on the range, I usually refer them to a good smith near them, or tell them to come see me at the shop.

I did install a mid bead for a young lady (she supplied the bead) who shoots HS Trap and works at one of the ranges I shoot at, when she asked about cost, I told her to consider it part of her tip, but I tipped her cash also. I was a trap boy as a teenager, I know it's not an easy job.
 
4v50 Gary said:
Suggest you keep mum. If you take another person's gun it to clean it for pay, you're supposed to have a FFL; especially if it stays in your home overnight.

I have worked on other people's guns, but get them on the school's book (they have the FFL) and don't charge.
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I have read so many different opinions on that though most state it's not necessary as it's not resale, gunsmithing or refinishing. Even the "overnight" is subject for debate in this instance but most seem to agree not to keep it overnight is best.
Besides it was months ago and I haven't heard back from him.
The main thing that is legally stated is the firearm must be returned to the person who dropped it off.
Not saying you're wrong just indicating it's still up for debate.
 
Anecdote Alert:
When I was shooting a lot of Trap, there was a prominent Lady shooter in the area.
She cropped up with an engraved, gold inlaid Ljutic single barrel trap gun but was not doing well with it.
One of her cronies said: "Miss Eula, that single barrel is beating you up, why don't you go back to your 1100?"
"Oh, honey, Tom said that if he ever had to clean another 1100, he would quit taking me shooting."
"You could pay the guy at the store to clean your gun and quit getting kicked so hard."

Nobody ever gave a thought to the notion that Miss Eula might clean her own gun. Or go to the gun club by herself.
 
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My rule of thumb is simply not to touch anybody else's gun. No upsides for me, and plenty of downsides. I also don't like anybody else touching my guns.
 
BTW, for the last gun I polished and blued the owner made a donation to the school's 501(c)3 gunsmithing foundation (school got ducats). What I got was material to write two articles one of which was published this month as well as scrap wood and brass to make a ball starter.

At class (muzzle loading) people liked the ball starter I made better than the school's ball's starter.
 
Old Dog said:
$50 an hour is my rate. I won't do any work for less. I made more than that at the job I retired from (I was salaried, but still overtime eligible, so I was well compensated). Sheesh, have any of you hired housecleaners lately? Up here, they're getting $35-plus an hour and most want a lot more for new clients.

And just how would that even come up?
Click to expand...

Attached is a link a list of frivolous lawsuits filed in 2022. Don't underestimate people's willingness to sue over nonsense.

instituteforlegalreform.com

The Most Ridiculous Lawsuits of 2022 - ILR

Learn about some of the most ridiculous lawsuits of 2022.
instituteforlegalreform.com instituteforlegalreform.com
 
A lot of people don’t know how to properly clean their firearms. I would offer to show him how instead. Having a good neighbor is better than the money.
 
Old Dog said:
$50 an hour is my rate. I won't do any work for less. I made more than that at the job I retired from (I was salaried, but still overtime eligible, so I was well compensated). Sheesh, have any of you hired housecleaners lately? Up here, they're getting $35-plus an hour and most want a lot more for new clients.

And just how would that even come up?
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Heck, if you're cleaning it and accidently drop the slide, barrel, etc on the concrete floor and dent/damage the gun. It is on you.
 
kidneyboy said:
I'm having a hard time believing this to be true. Is this unique to where you live or a federal regulation?
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We were told this at gunsmithing school.

From the Ban All The Fun Everytime website:

Is a license needed to engage in the business of engraving, customizing, refinishing or repairing firearms?​


Yes. A person conducting such activities as a business is considered to be a gunsmith within the definition of a dealer.
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An occasional cleaning may not qualify but aa regular business of cleaning for profit may. However, I would not put myself at the mercy of Ban All The Fun Everytime's discretion.
 
There is a local guy that has cleaned guns for ten years or more. Attends Shot Show, has the ultrasonic bath, tears them down and reassembles for a number of hunting preserves and lodges in the area. He charges $80 and up per gun, depending upon service requested.

I haven't seen his intake form, but I would bet that the owner certifies that the gun is in working condition, exactly what service is requested, and when the gun is expected to be ready for pickup. I would also expect that he makes it clear that owner assumes the risk and is responsible for function testing and use of the gun thereafter. I am also sure he maintains insurance coverage. And out here, people don't consider litigation cost effective.

I suspect that BATFE would have included cleaning and maintenance in their rules if they thought they could stretch that far, but next year they may. Who knows? By now we are all getting a bit gun shy.

There is risk in all we do.
 
Interesting thread. I clean friends guns for them…but informal thing. And I only do what I am comfortable doing.

If I charged, I’d probably figure $30-50 per gun, and that would include basic field strip, clean, and lube.

Probably spend 20 minutes on a Glock or revolver, closer to an hour on an AR type platform.
 
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