The Night Rider
Member
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2022
- Messages
- 2,146
The headline here is that people are paying attention to you cleaning guns in your garage and probably not just your neighbor.
Charge him 25 bucks a gun
Cleaning Guns
- Thread starter kje54
- Start date
Charge him 25 bucks a gun
doubleh
Member
No way, no how for me. If you are too lazy to clean your guns take them to a gunsmith is my viewpoint. I enjoy being retired. If he is a nice guy I might invite him over to use my stuff to clean his guns once, then it would be up to him to do it himself or hire a professional.
Dave DeLaurant
Member
When I was a gunhappy teen, my dad let me clean all the guns after we went shooting. Back then it was the only time I got to handle guns off the firing line. He checked my work afterwards, but that's how I learned to field strip all the rifles we owned.
I suppose that kind of arrangement is as obsolete as a teenaged babysitter today. :-(
I suppose that kind of arrangement is as obsolete as a teenaged babysitter today. :-(
.308 Norma
Member
I enjoy being retired too. And if I spent time cleaning someone else's guns, I would have less time to spend on THR.
Old Dog
Member
Yes (of course) to the first two. No to the third.
Of course, it would be on me if the gun were damaged.
But are we talking about cleaning a friend's basic firearms or cleaning his Holland & Holland Royal?
Maybe it's just me, but I think a concern about a lawsuit if a $600 Glock or $1200 1911 gets damaged or broken falls into the realm of overthinking and catastrophizing...
Last edited:
I don't see the word "cleaning" referenced there, but be afraid.......
I'd want to make a day of it to be worth while. Just call some local shops and ask them how much for a common day to day, field strip clean. base your price around that and what it is worth it to you to bother. Honestly, you might want to consider having anyone involved sign like a waiver, saying they understand you are not performing any gunsmithing services, blah blah, and take zero, no responsibility for anything. That might not hold up, but it tells you up front you're not involved in a scam, if there are people you don't really know involved, neighbor's friends. cash only. give them no paperwork, no email contact or records. face to face, cash only. take it or leave it. neighbor clears all the guns, and just brings them with a list in a box. If they make it easy and you're not getting run around, maybe cut them a better deal if it ends up being regular income.
Capybara
Member
No way I would do this in 2024 America. 1974 America, heck yeah but I agree with the others. Our justice system is a joke and everyone sues everybody over anything. Not worth the risk.
I've taught a few hundred people who to reload for free when I ran our local reloading club. That was fun but we were shut down by the CADOJ because we weren't an authorized ammo vendor and there were hints that the ATF wanted us to become an FFL06, just to teach people how to reload! I don't even teach reloading anymore because of these same issues, too many alphabet agencies want to nail you and the people you're instructing will sue you over anything, not worth the risk. Sad, but true.
I've taught a few hundred people who to reload for free when I ran our local reloading club. That was fun but we were shut down by the CADOJ because we weren't an authorized ammo vendor and there were hints that the ATF wanted us to become an FFL06, just to teach people how to reload! I don't even teach reloading anymore because of these same issues, too many alphabet agencies want to nail you and the people you're instructing will sue you over anything, not worth the risk. Sad, but true.
Miami_JBT
Member
"That $600 GLOCK was a priceless family treasure and is irreplaceable! Your honor, I want $10,000 as coverage for pain and suffering."
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
I hate cleaning them too, so I don't. Unless you're shooting blackpowder or corrosive primers, it's entirely unnecessary to clean your guns every time you shoot them. So I don't.
Last edited:
gwpercle
Member
I remember the local gun shop charging $15.00 to clean guns , rifle , shotgun or handgun...
but that was 1970-1980 money ... Today ...taking into cosideration the cost of gun cleaners and lubricants ...
I'm thinking $25 to $30 for a cleaning ... you know they are going to shoot them untill filthy and maybe malfunctioning before asking for a cleaning .
I would do it ...but my cleaner would have to be Ed's Red Gun Cleaner / Solvent . about $20 will buy ingredients to make a gallon and lubricant would be a lightweight synthetic motor oil ( like walmart Super-Tech $4.98 quart) If you can keep down the cost of solvent and lube then you can do a good job .
Depending on how much they ..." HATE" gun cleaning ...you may can get $40 or even $50 for the job !
Gary
but that was 1970-1980 money ... Today ...taking into cosideration the cost of gun cleaners and lubricants ...
I'm thinking $25 to $30 for a cleaning ... you know they are going to shoot them untill filthy and maybe malfunctioning before asking for a cleaning .
I would do it ...but my cleaner would have to be Ed's Red Gun Cleaner / Solvent . about $20 will buy ingredients to make a gallon and lubricant would be a lightweight synthetic motor oil ( like walmart Super-Tech $4.98 quart) If you can keep down the cost of solvent and lube then you can do a good job .
Depending on how much they ..." HATE" gun cleaning ...you may can get $40 or even $50 for the job !
Gary
Riomouse911
Member
My indoor range membership includes a gun cleaning once a month.
I clean my guns myself, but others may take them up on the service.
Stay safe.
I clean my guns myself, but others may take them up on the service.
Stay safe.
Ya might want to check your state regs. Many places now require a ffl to do anything to a gun including cleaning them. Now many people don't D*** on something like that, but ya might want to know. As for cleaning, around here a general cleaning is worth $40 or so and a deep cleaning is $75 and up depending on what one might find.
W.E.G.
Member
For the most part, guns don't mind being dirty.
But you do have to keep enough oil on them so they don't rust.
But you do have to keep enough oil on them so they don't rust.
I agree with potential liability issues. Don't agree with high dollar per hour since it is semi-skilled labor. I'd rather show someone how to do it and that it really isn't that hard or difficult once you know what you are doing. Now I could see someone being leery about using copper remover and a significant teardown and maybe with a liability waiver, I would clean it for them.
irishlad
Contributing Member
JJFitch
Member
Result of a new law in WA state a few years ago! The language in the law even prevents a buddy from holding your shot gun while you take a pee in the bushes!
Ignition Override
Member
Cleaning my friend's three favorite guns -- AR-15 (this means Any AR), a Beretta 92* and a shotgun - was the first time I had ever field-stripped any of these types.
And that was when I was age 60.
Don't assume that even a guy, the friend, who grew up in Germany
(until age 22) likes to clean equipment.
Old sayings about German Hausfraus worshipping cleanliness might not apply to men.
And that was when I was age 60.
Don't assume that even a guy, the friend, who grew up in Germany
(until age 22) likes to clean equipment.Old sayings about German Hausfraus worshipping cleanliness might not apply to men.
you Germans still like order and cleanliness more than the average American. But you are American now. Haha.Cleaning my friend's three favorite guns -- AR-15 (this means Any AR), a Beretta 92* and a shotgun - was the first time I had ever field-stripped any of these types.
And that was when I was age 60.
Don't assume that even a guy, the friend, who grew up in Germany
Old sayings about German Hausfraus worshipping cleanliness might not apply to men.
Ignition Override
Member
Chief TC: Sorry, my syntax wasn't very clear "...even a guy, the Friend, who grew up in Germany..".
True, he tends to like some order and cleanliness, but his Frau takes care of some of that when she isn't doing her Fedex career marketing job via Zoom.
To broaden this in a different direction, both the German guy and a guy I know from
Kent England probably never touched a gun in their home countries (civilian backgrounds, Univ.).
German guy Ralph in recent years acquired up to about 20 guns, but his six horses 
prevent freq. shooting....
...whereas theEnglish guy has a "kitchen table FFL" plus tax stamps for his select-fire MP5 and select-fire AKM rifles. Strange., and more so because he prefers building RC airplanes. Very, very seldom shoots.
True, he tends to like some order and cleanliness, but his Frau takes care of some of that when she isn't doing her Fedex career marketing job via Zoom.
To broaden this in a different direction, both the German guy and a guy I know from
Kent England probably never touched a gun in their home countries (civilian backgrounds, Univ.).German guy Ralph in recent years acquired up to about 20 guns, but his six horses prevent freq. shooting.......whereas the
English guy has a "kitchen table FFL" plus tax stamps for his select-fire MP5 and select-fire AKM rifles. Strange., and more so because he prefers building RC airplanes. Very, very seldom shoots.
Last edited:
DustyGmt
Member
If you're retired I would think this would be a pretty great way to help a buddy out and offset the grocery bill. I don't know if I could actually depend on it as an actual business but $35-$50 as others have said sounds about right. Not sure what actually constitutes gunsmithing and not sure of any applicable ATF rules so it might be worth a call to 12-18 different ATF agents to find out, or a lawyer.
